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Battleship Leviathan #1
Battleship Leviathan
A derelict warship, ancient but still alive. A small team of humans fighting for all humanity.
Built for a time when the races were just finding their way to the stars, finding that they could dominate others. The galactic conquests created the arms race and the ancients, the Progenitors had to protect their own. They built a ship to drive the others away.
It worked. And it didn’t. The Progenitors abandoned the galaxy to the newcomers, leaving relics behind as monuments to their failure.
Humanity spread to the stars and ran headlong into the established races. A new war begins, and no one conducts war better than humanity except for the Blaze Collective.
The two go head-to-head while humanity frantically searches for something to give them an advantage. Ancient technology. The derelicts scattered across the galaxy. Gutted and useless.
Except for one, hidden in plain sight, close to Earth. Major Declan Payne takes his team aboard to find that the ship is no derelict, and it needs him as much as humanity needs it.
Battleship: Leviathan. A Doomsday Weapon whose only goal is peace.
Built for a time when the races were just finding their way to the stars, finding that they could dominate others. The galactic conquests created the arms race and the ancients, the Progenitors had to protect their own. They built a ship to drive the others away.
It worked. And it didn’t. The Progenitors abandoned the galaxy to the newcomers, leaving relics behind as monuments to their failure.
Humanity spread to the stars and ran headlong into the established races. A new war begins, and no one conducts war better than humanity except for the Blaze Collective.
The two go head-to-head while humanity frantically searches for something to give them an advantage. Ancient technology. The derelicts scattered across the galaxy. Gutted and useless.
Except for one, hidden in plain sight, close to Earth. Major Declan Payne takes his team aboard to find that the ship is no derelict, and it needs him as much as humanity needs it.
Battleship: Leviathan. A Doomsday Weapon whose only goal is peace.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2021
977 people are currently reading
3407 people want to read
About the author
Craig Martelle
328 books7,887 followersVisit Craig's web page, craigmartelle.com for the latest posts and updates or find him on Facebook, Author Craig Martelle. Send an email to craig@craigmartelle.com to join his mailing list for the latest on new releases, information on old releases, and anything related to his books.
I see my other lives, a career in the Marines, those damn hand-written tests in law school, a business consultant, as if they're stories from a book. I see my books as if I lived there, as if I were friends with the characters. All things we remember are behind us, only those we imagine lie before.
I'm not sure which place I prefer, but I don't have to choose. They live together in my mind. My books have some award nominations, they have bestseller tags across multiple countries. I write about justice, honor, and loyalty because that's what I care about. My stories are mostly set within worlds that haven't been, but could be. We have to be ready for when those times come.
No matter where I went, I always had a book with me. Thanks to 21st Century technology, I now have hundreds of books loaded on my phone and always with me. This breakthrough allows me to binge read my favorites. How many books would I have read on deployments had I not had to have a physical book with me? I paced myself so I wouldn't finish too quickly.
We aren't encumbered like that now. I love the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. I have been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, I aspire to live up to those that you, the readers, have compared me to.
Through a bizarre series of events, I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. I never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. My wife and I get to watch the northern lights from our driveway. Our dog has lots of room to run. And temperatures reach fifty below zero. We have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer.
It's all part of the give and take of life. If we didn't have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.
I see my other lives, a career in the Marines, those damn hand-written tests in law school, a business consultant, as if they're stories from a book. I see my books as if I lived there, as if I were friends with the characters. All things we remember are behind us, only those we imagine lie before.
I'm not sure which place I prefer, but I don't have to choose. They live together in my mind. My books have some award nominations, they have bestseller tags across multiple countries. I write about justice, honor, and loyalty because that's what I care about. My stories are mostly set within worlds that haven't been, but could be. We have to be ready for when those times come.
No matter where I went, I always had a book with me. Thanks to 21st Century technology, I now have hundreds of books loaded on my phone and always with me. This breakthrough allows me to binge read my favorites. How many books would I have read on deployments had I not had to have a physical book with me? I paced myself so I wouldn't finish too quickly.
We aren't encumbered like that now. I love the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. I have been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, I aspire to live up to those that you, the readers, have compared me to.
Through a bizarre series of events, I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. I never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. My wife and I get to watch the northern lights from our driveway. Our dog has lots of room to run. And temperatures reach fifty below zero. We have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer.
It's all part of the give and take of life. If we didn't have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
October 24, 2021
5th Grade Writing style, and someone who has only watched bad war movies
I’m a big fan of military sci-fi, and read a lot of it from a number of different authors. I was drawn to the plot description, as I’m sure many of you would be. Who wouldn’t be it has the familiar tropes that we love a progenitor race, a mysterious ship, and a hopeless war.
Don’t be fooled, this book is not good.
Frenetic pacing and skipping over entire scenes, bare bones descriptions of anything that is going on and the cliches…. Oh the cliches. ‘Thanks for saving my life.’ ‘I just did it to save the paperwork’.
Buried within this book there are one or two interesting ideas, but they’re not original and they’ve been done better by almost every other author you can imagine.
I’m a big fan of military sci-fi, and read a lot of it from a number of different authors. I was drawn to the plot description, as I’m sure many of you would be. Who wouldn’t be it has the familiar tropes that we love a progenitor race, a mysterious ship, and a hopeless war.
Don’t be fooled, this book is not good.
Frenetic pacing and skipping over entire scenes, bare bones descriptions of anything that is going on and the cliches…. Oh the cliches. ‘Thanks for saving my life.’ ‘I just did it to save the paperwork’.
Buried within this book there are one or two interesting ideas, but they’re not original and they’ve been done better by almost every other author you can imagine.
December 5, 2021
I read the first chapter of this book and my only thought was this author on drugs when he wrote this? I had to go back and read it again to make sense of the frantic mess.
I tried to keep going, but I’m afraid I found the author’s frenetic comic book style too exhausting and had to give up.
I tried to keep going, but I’m afraid I found the author’s frenetic comic book style too exhausting and had to give up.
October 11, 2021
A Grand-Slam From the First Word Forward
FULL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
I am a huge fan of Craig Martelle’s ability to tell a story and hold one’s interest. BUT…
I despise (loathe might be more accurate) the military opera genre. I have never found it to be interesting. When I want to read about the military I prefer to read non-fiction material.
So, that being said, I probably would not have picked this book up had I not been following Craig on FB. One unkind comment prompted me to pick it up and take a look. I should have known better because I was hooked almost instantaneously.
We don’t really come to “love” these characters, even though we get to know a lot about each of them, rather I would say we come to love this TEAM, instead. As an aggregate whole they most definitely surpass the sum of the individual parts. Although I, myself, have never served, this seems particularly appropriate for a story focused on the military.
If, you’re a long-time Craig Martelle fan, you’re in for a real treat. It may only be my opinion, but it has seemed to me that the first one or two books in any of the series he has written are a bit of “choppy water,” until he gets his sea-legs for that particular storyline. This put me off reading his work for quite a while. Not so, this story!
Again, bearing in mind how I feel about the military fiction genre, imagine my shock at being grabbed and pulled into this story within 5-10 paragraphs. The LEAST he could have done was provide a warning to keep our hands in the car at all times and remain seated until it comes to a full-stop, cause this book is a rollercoaster ride.
Finally, returning to my baseball analogy, I’ll admit I wasn’t enthralled with a 9th Inning Substitution, but I’ll withhold judgment until we see if this player can catch the ball. Time will tell.
Regardless, pick this book up, take a seat, hold on (remember, he omitted the public safety warnings), and ENJOY!
FULL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
I am a huge fan of Craig Martelle’s ability to tell a story and hold one’s interest. BUT…
I despise (loathe might be more accurate) the military opera genre. I have never found it to be interesting. When I want to read about the military I prefer to read non-fiction material.
So, that being said, I probably would not have picked this book up had I not been following Craig on FB. One unkind comment prompted me to pick it up and take a look. I should have known better because I was hooked almost instantaneously.
We don’t really come to “love” these characters, even though we get to know a lot about each of them, rather I would say we come to love this TEAM, instead. As an aggregate whole they most definitely surpass the sum of the individual parts. Although I, myself, have never served, this seems particularly appropriate for a story focused on the military.
If, you’re a long-time Craig Martelle fan, you’re in for a real treat. It may only be my opinion, but it has seemed to me that the first one or two books in any of the series he has written are a bit of “choppy water,” until he gets his sea-legs for that particular storyline. This put me off reading his work for quite a while. Not so, this story!
Again, bearing in mind how I feel about the military fiction genre, imagine my shock at being grabbed and pulled into this story within 5-10 paragraphs. The LEAST he could have done was provide a warning to keep our hands in the car at all times and remain seated until it comes to a full-stop, cause this book is a rollercoaster ride.
Finally, returning to my baseball analogy, I’ll admit I wasn’t enthralled with a 9th Inning Substitution, but I’ll withhold judgment until we see if this player can catch the ball. Time will tell.
Regardless, pick this book up, take a seat, hold on (remember, he omitted the public safety warnings), and ENJOY!
January 16, 2023
Good idea. Atrocious execution.
November 7, 2021
The idea of this book is really good. I had high hopes for it. A huge battleship far advanced from anything humanity can muster is found in the middle of a war. Now you would think that is a good start for some real alien ass kicking. Unfortunately this is were the book goes down the drain more or less right away.
The battleship is controlled by a equally advanced AI, of course, and this AI is a pacifist. Now ignoring the total insanity and lack of realism in putting a pacifist AI in charge of a battleship, is there really a better way of ruining a military science fiction book? The entire rest of the book is more or less a constant harping about how she will not allow because… etc. etc. What the f…?
Sure, there are some enjoyable moments in the book. The AI is pretty cool when she’s not harping pacifist nonsense and she does occasionally fire her weapons. The main protagonist is quite a likable character but that doesn’t really help when the entire story is ruined by a battleship that is prevented from performing its design purpose.
I’m seriously wondering whether I will try the second book in the series in the hope the AI will be set straight or if I will cut my losses after the first one.
The battleship is controlled by a equally advanced AI, of course, and this AI is a pacifist. Now ignoring the total insanity and lack of realism in putting a pacifist AI in charge of a battleship, is there really a better way of ruining a military science fiction book? The entire rest of the book is more or less a constant harping about how she will not allow because… etc. etc. What the f…?
Sure, there are some enjoyable moments in the book. The AI is pretty cool when she’s not harping pacifist nonsense and she does occasionally fire her weapons. The main protagonist is quite a likable character but that doesn’t really help when the entire story is ruined by a battleship that is prevented from performing its design purpose.
I’m seriously wondering whether I will try the second book in the series in the hope the AI will be set straight or if I will cut my losses after the first one.
Read
October 1, 2025Abandoned at 15% (read the first 4 chapters). A lot of crew camaraderie and repartee but so many characters and so little action that I lost interest and didn't really care about them finally boarding the derelict spaceship 'Leviathan' to discover what was inside. Very popular Mil-SF writer, though, so your mileage may vary. Just wasn't for me.
September 3, 2025
RECOMMENDED
March 8, 2023
Not for me
Just to juvenile that I could have put up with but to long and drawn out. I read it to the end but will not be reading the next one
Just to juvenile that I could have put up with but to long and drawn out. I read it to the end but will not be reading the next one
August 9, 2022
Well, I started to read it, but give me a break. The main character is Major Declan Payne. Get it, Major Payne who's space ship used to transport Marines he named Glamorous Glennis, the name of Chuck Yeager's WW-II and X-!. Nope, not happening.
October 10, 2022
I picked up Battleship Leviathan, book #1 in the series of the same name, written by Craig Martelle, and narrated by Shawn Compton on sale as part of an Audible daily deal. I really enjoy military SCIFI and space operas and there were some really good concepts in the book, but overall, I found it lacking.
First, the author provides literally no worldbuilding, but simply drops the reader into the story. There are some interesting characters, and a lot of action, but I did not find that I was given much insight into any of the main characters, other than their exterior one-dimensional personas. There were some fun parts, but while I am very familiar with military banter, I found some of it a bit adolescent. Overall if found the book to be a disappointment.
If I ever find audiobooks in the series at the library, might consider listening, to find out where the story goes, but I definitely will not buy them.
First, the author provides literally no worldbuilding, but simply drops the reader into the story. There are some interesting characters, and a lot of action, but I did not find that I was given much insight into any of the main characters, other than their exterior one-dimensional personas. There were some fun parts, but while I am very familiar with military banter, I found some of it a bit adolescent. Overall if found the book to be a disappointment.
If I ever find audiobooks in the series at the library, might consider listening, to find out where the story goes, but I definitely will not buy them.
September 5, 2021
I received an advanced reading copy of this book and I am happy that I got to read it. This year, and through a lot of my reading list I have been a fan of military SF and this story definetly falls in that category.
I would recommend this series if you have read and enjoyed other military SF books, and I will be reading the other 2 books in this series when they come out.
I would recommend this series if you have read and enjoyed other military SF books, and I will be reading the other 2 books in this series when they come out.
November 4, 2021
Team banter is very irritating.
Very promising storyline which did not deliver. Main character was not very likeable. Comes across as strong but wimps out on many occasions. Lets people manipulate him even as he knows it is happening. Makes mental note to himself to address it later but never gets around to it.
Very promising storyline which did not deliver. Main character was not very likeable. Comes across as strong but wimps out on many occasions. Lets people manipulate him even as he knows it is happening. Makes mental note to himself to address it later but never gets around to it.
January 10, 2022
I’m up to page 19 AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!!
I’m up to Page 23 and I still have no idea what the fok this is about, so I am quitting.
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME THIS HAS BEEN!!!
I GIVE THIS MINUS TEN STARS!!!!!! “ - 10* “
I’m up to Page 23 and I still have no idea what the fok this is about, so I am quitting.
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME THIS HAS BEEN!!!
I GIVE THIS MINUS TEN STARS!!!!!! “ - 10* “
November 5, 2022
2 stars. I finished it, but I won't be reading the rest of the books in the series. VERY superficial characterization, VERY unrealistic story-line, VERY simplistic writing with the continuous banter substituting as dialogue that I detest.
January 5, 2022
Good opening destroyed by trashy vocabulary
I had enough of that during 34 years of active military service. I have neither patience nor time for it now.
I had enough of that during 34 years of active military service. I have neither patience nor time for it now.
March 20, 2022
Leviathan
Opening was terrible, it's structure is just go with the flow and gets wirse from there. Sorry I spent the money on it.
Opening was terrible, it's structure is just go with the flow and gets wirse from there. Sorry I spent the money on it.
Read
June 5, 20222/10: Managed half the book, tempted to read more but just couldn't get there.
Read
December 3, 2025Rating: minus 10 on a scale of minus 15 to plus five. Since exposure to Kindle Unlimited, I did not finish perhaps as many as 50% of titles attempted. Previous to Kindle, I do not think that I was unable to finish more than 3 or 4 books.
I am rewriting the review since Goodreads removed my original. Mentioning certain very nasty serial commenters by member name was deemed "hate" speech. A well known BookTuber writing a review citing overtly racist elements of a popular book also had her review removed for "hate" speech. She then added it to her channel.
It is a strange definition of "Hate" anywhere except Goodreads and the Land of Freedom.
This next was made possible by a visit to the YouTube. Doctor Who/They Break My Heart, NCMI, Anark, The Cosy Creative, LuckyBlackCat, Novara Media, The Fun Size Reader, TheJuiceMedia, Kyiv Post, No Justice, Mina Reads, Lit with Leigh, Alexa Donne, Biz, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, FAFO, Karolina Zebrowska, Well Deck Diaries, SandRhoman History, Izzie and Ciara, Dr Fatima, NFKRZ, Delamer,
Tabithaspeakspolitics, Terrible Writing Advice, Travelling K, Snappy Dragon, Deerstalker Pictures, Dungeons and Discourse, The Grungeon Master, Eileen, Sound of Silence -NiNi Music, Horses, Kyiv Independent, Femi, Supertanskiii, Relish Books, Daniel Green, Bobby Broccoli, Ukraine Calling, Sailing Melody, Bobbing Along, Ben and Emily, Bookish Realm, Write with Caitlin Cherise, Ship Happens, Boat Time,
Vlad Vexler, May, OrangeRiver, Eckharts Ladder, LIbrary Ladder, Ukraine Matters, Brothers Gwynne, Hello Future Me, Princess Weekes, Welcome to Ukraine, Inside Russia, ThePrimeChronus, Lily Simpson, Lady of the Library, Fall of Civilisations, Smooth Criminal - Jingxuan, Hotel California - Moyun, Rebecca Watson, Gutsick Gibbon, Times Radio, Sci-Fi Odyssey, Spacedock, Emperor Tigerstar, North of MAGA.
Rudolph Kohn,
Military Aviation History, Northern Pulse, Sailing Melody, Bobbing Along, Cruising Crafts, Cruising Alba, Cruising on the Border, Natasha's Adventures, Eugenia from Ukraine, Military History Visualized, Hello Future Me, Jay Exci, Larry&Paul, Mynameismarines, Fit 2B Read, Authors Behaving badly, Eric Karl Anderson, Dr Benjamin Thomas, History with Kayleigh, CBC News Nova Scotia,
Northern Narrowboaters, Sabston - Soldier of Heaven Ukraine, Cruising the Cut, Eckharts Ladder, Library Ladder, Andrewism, Hoots, Abby Cox, MSI - Songs Sped Up, Ministry of Miniatures, Generic Entertainment, Kat Blacque, Raw News and Politics, The Interesting Times, Think Ukraine, TableTop CP, Then and Now, Zoe Bee, House of El, Lily Kincade, Gingers are Black, Alizee.
A Snowflake (poorly socialised, nasty, unselfaware US baby-man) recently whilst insulting an essayist I reference, complained to her that I list other trans creators.
Besides my continuing bemusement at the stupidity and viciousness of Snowflakes, I realised a trigger warning is warranted.
I list channels with archaeologist, marine biologist. bi, Canadian, economist, sewist, asexual, socialist, blond, cosplayer, tall, fashion historian, trans, redhaired, WOC, model painter, Indian, lesbian, boat builder, language historian, mathematician, writer, intersex, architect, communist, paleontologist, cis, military boardgamer, farmer, model builder, queer, primatologist, Bahamian, het, pensioner, miniatures builder and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening to the Snowflake are channels which include military analyst, artist, neurodivergent, Irish, physicist, wood worker, political scientist, other LGBTQI+, anarchist, other military historian, culture critic, Cornish, boat restorer, other fashion historian, philosopher, physicist, ginger, Ugandan, other BIPOC, mathematician and other creators who are known (outside the USA) as Human Beings.
Should the voices insist you visit reviews or channels, I suggest seeking out the nearest Taoist monastery, developing a new skill (such as reading) or emergency pastoral counselling.
My feelings towards those clods are similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island, when their surrender was demanded. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Currently the science fiction story most often involves a hero ship usually smaller than a Russian oligarch's super-yacht, a ragtag crew of four to eight with stereotypical traits rather than personalities.
This features a battleship, so I imagine the male, American captain or whatever of an all American crew saves humanity, conquers the galaxy or whatever. The human race is grateful forever.
The "plots" are vaguely connected scenes generating no unpredictable consequences. There will be spaceship chases, incomprehensible battle scenes with predictable (against all odds) outcomes and usually inappropriate banter in lieu of dialogue. With no solid characters or worldbuilding there are almost no other options.
Tropism does not reflect the long history of the genre. At the very least, the genre attempts to challenge aspects of society, current historical understanding or the possibilities of engineering and science against their impacts on society, redefines the political or discusses the philosophical.
I had imagined that most readers appreciate a hint of those in their entertainment but I admit that I was wrong.
Consider treating this as a hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse is a myth. As example, I wrote a six or seven sentence review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), advocate for the return of chattel slavery (popular position in the USA with a new forced labour prison for the homeless being completed in the state of Utah), veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency and admirer of Putin and his fascist Russia (another popular position in the USA).
The story was a celebration of the struggle of a newly rich twat attempting to overthrow the US government with the aid of the military in order that he not pay taxes. In addition to the bad writing, I found the book to be unhealthy, dangerous and now prophetic. Sadly it or something like seems to border on a majority of Unlimited science fiction loans.
Travis and six patriotic friends were incensed. They spent pages and wrote months of unhinged comments, including that all black Americans would be sent to Jamaican plantations, socialism is evil, my intellectual capacity was found lacking, the narcissism implicit in my failure to engage and more. There was no mention of the book's brilliance or lack thereof.
I was even treated to my first hacking attempt in that period.
Filth from filth seems appropriate. As a communist, the levels of irony were painful.
The final comment was written by Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now known as Clayton R Jesse, Jr. After referencing the contents of my last message to a Goodreads friend, he announced that "They" had "won" (?).
I discovered that these animals and friends had deluged every female creator I mentioned with racist, misogynistic, ableist and similar comments for a year (sometimes in my name). It continues still.
They failed in their efforts to entice the midteen boater or her mother, primatologist, sewist, mathematician and other creators.
While that campaign failed, They did significantly increase the global overabundance of unpleasantness and deliver to a multinational audience an accurate self-portrait of the Snowflake (poorly educated, very stupid, desperately seeking attention US man-child).
It seems that was a splendid Victory. Goodreads is quite the reader forum.
I have earned her another break on the YouTube. This next was courtesy of Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, NCMI, Politics Girl, Saving Blue Steel, Keffals, Skip Intro, Philosophy Tube, D'Angelo, Petrik Leo, Verilybitchie, Kazachka, Evie Lupine, Michael Lambert, Beck Leavesly, Chandler Ainsley, Skylar Earnhart, EarleWrites, Micro-Digressions, Red Viburnam Song, Riverboat Jack, Words in Time,
Amanda the Jedi, Expert Book Smuggler, Book Furnace, Anna Cramling, Mercado Media, The Friendly Atheist, Honest Government Ads, Todd Maffin, FAFO, The Juice Media, Viva La Dirt League, Britmonkey, The Kavernacle, Nicole Raflee, Book Chats with Shelley, Octopus Lady, Physics Girl, Lindsay Ellis, Your True Shelf, Ellbat, Christy Anne Jones, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Jess Owens, Lily Simpson, Aid Thompsin,
Canada Daily Report, Interesting Times, Xiran Jay Zhao, A Sunny Book Nook, Jen the Librarian, Liz Webster, AllShorts, Central Crossing, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Riverboat Jack, Plant Based Bride, Anka Daily News, A Lil Bit Mads, Hardy's Books, RobWords, Hej Sokoly, ATP Geopolitics, Living Anachronism, Serena Skybourne,
NerdForge, Depressed Russian, Central Crossing, Willow Talks Books, Candlelit Tales, Haropones, Crecganford, Killing Time, Neida Teresa, According to Alina, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Ponderful, Kaz Rowe, Some More News, Times Radio, Kyiv Independent, The Gaze, Abney Park, Fundie Fridays, Reads with Rachel, Books N Cats, Bella Ciao -Nikolay Kutuzov, Mia Mulder, Leftist Cooks, Jessie Gender, Biz,
Contrapoints, Broken Peach, Books with Chloe, Sort of Interesting,Jenny Gillblad, A Day of Small Things, Crow Caller, Boat Time, Ben and Emily, Zoe Baker, Diary of Ditch Witch, Cappy Army, Wes O'Donnell, Battle Order, Gingers are Black, Tibees, Postmodern Jukebox, IMY2, The Pioneer, Chris and Shell.
Ominous music begins. 😊 Outrageous Snowflake behaviour and a most improbable 4+ average rating across the breadth of the Kindle offerings are easily explained.
I eventually realised that Goodreads is not a reader forum nor a simple popularity contest amongst the semi-literate but a consensus enforcement mechanism. To challenge racist, misogynist, US supremacist or other anti-human themes, tropes or writer rants is to invite Amazon, Kindle and Goodreads retribution.
Amazon have to my knowledge never acknowledged incidents or taken steps to discipline psychotic members, punish writers who organise gangs or to dismiss employees enabling doxxing, stalking, threats and more, aimed at one or two star reviewers and now booktubers in the romance or speculative fiction spaces.
Female readers and those of Colour are particularly targeted, though even the white male must prepare to weather the storm, should he transgress. Free speech is here defined as not acknowledging - bad prose, awful political messaging, poor pacing, sad character depiction, no editing, etc and to do otherwise seems frowned upon in this US reader forum.
After my review of Powers, my limited message history was given over to these unhinged but cowardly little men and Their partners. This generated a request from Pine Gap Centre that Australian Security services interrogate the one Goodreads friend whom I occasionally messaged.
They failed in Their information gathering and created two outraged customers. This was comically illegal in both countries but very dangerous to me. I gather that US members in the main do not understand that last sentence.
After we began widely sharing that information, Amazon suddenly developed something similar to concern. No apology, faux upset and the rest. They instead removed all visible harassment from my pages. My page format and options were returned to normal, all Lurkers whom I had not previously been Permitted to remove were suddenly disappeared and more. Even my Kindle service interruptions were ended.
There were several half hearted attempts after, to join my friend list and a recent alteration to my keyboard without option to reset. With my mention of both in reviews and elsewhere, the worms crawled back under their rocks. When I pictured madlads, I imagined the SAS in North Africa not cowardly, near literates, newly evicted from a parent's basement.
See my Powers review for a relatively complete recounting of Amazon's treatment of one customer.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produce a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind to EBay. The couple were awarded millions and the ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such.
With the licence given to US data firms by the current government, I expect both incidents and severity to increase.
For a measure of safety on this site, I suggest several precautions. Remove all personal information from Goodreads profile and avoid messaging. Remove lurkers, those who never post. They are likely monitors for comment gangs or employee dummies, not admirers.
Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering the pages of customers, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. The above should be sufficient.
Safer forums are Storygraph, Fable, Bookwise, Read Tracker and Booksley. Victoria Masters' book channel describes them and others.
Kindle are another matter. Do Not use Kindle Files, Calendar, Email or Contacts. I confirmed on accident that Amazon employees read customer emails without permission or notice. Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" ebooks from Amazon. You own your device but not any download. They may be deleted or altered at Amazon's whim. Even Kindle access to the internet may be interdicted.
Should your Amazon account be terminated all books are deleted. There are Book. Tubers able to direct a reader to alternative ebook and device vendors. They may also suggest alternatives to e-book purchase.
Any immunity you enjoy at present rests on the whims of seriously damaged readers and employees. These animals, member and employee alike are unchecked by Amazon, embrace no non-Randian morality nor are They healthily socialised but They are American patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe. May we all discover Good Reading! 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
NCMI, The Military Show, aidan knight, Gary's Economics, Nerdy Kathi, Owen Jones, The London History Show, Mrs Betty Bowers, Philosophy Tube, Munecat, Some More News, Amie's Literary Empire, ScaredKetchup, Cambrian Chronicles, What Rae Reads, It's Black Friday, The Queer Kiwi, Adam Something, What Vivi did next,
Tale Foundry, Ben and Emily, Bobbing Along, Caelan Conrad, Kiko1006, Starbound, Dark Brandon, Bask in the Story, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Spoiled Librarians, Bart's Book Space, Book Belle, Skip Intro, US Agenda Channel, Lily Alexandre, Book Spin, Joseph Reads Books, Media Death Cult, Kathy's Flog in France, UATV English, ATP Geopolitics, Wurld, Cruising Crafts, Cruising Alba, Cruising the Cut,
Snappy Dragon, Lily Simpson, Jean's Thoughts, Squire, Swell Entertainment, Grammaticus Books, Art Deco, Mandy, Omeleto, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, May, Puddles Pity Party, Lilly's Life, Lex aka NewlyNova, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Rachel Oates, Madeline Maye, Eileen,
Maggie Mae Fish, Kirkpattiecake, RFU News, , Zoe Baker, Anna Fern, Peter Stefanovic, Brittany Page, Northern Narrowboaters, Lady of the Library, Scholars Shelf, Adult Wednesday Addams -2 seasons, A Day of Small Things, JammiDodger, Paige Elizabeth, Rowan Ellis, Ivie Anita, For the Love of Story, Nikkis's Book Nook, NanyaCim,
Chris Animations, Cass Ellis, Ministry of Miniatures, Grungeon Master, Viva La Dirt League, Discourse Minis, Aid Thompsin, Worldbuilding Corner, Verilybitchie, Kings and Generals, DUST, The Second Story, Bookpilled, Ukraine News TV, Willow Talks Books, Outlaw Bookseller, Deerstalker Pictures, Squire, The Leftist Cooks, Wednesday - Bloody Mary, Book Belle, The Juice Media, Guard the Leaf,
Reese Waters, Jack Edwards, OrangeRiver, Think Ukraine, Swell Entertainment, Silicon Curtain, Truth to Power, Aaron Read a Book, Prime of Midlife, Wednesday - Paint It Black, JuLingo, The British Museum, Brandon Fisichella, Lynn Saga, Fiona Hill,
Atun Shei Films, The Tank Museum, Lily Alexandre, ConeofArc, Certifiably Ingame, Time Tinkerer, TVP News, Lisandra Vazquez, NanyaCim, Red Plateaus, Chess Vibe, FAFO, The ThePrImeChronus, The Authentic Observer, Cecilia Blomdahl, Tall Guy Reads, Savy Writes Books, Matriarchetype, Ember Green, Sarah Paine,
The Orbital, Event Horizon, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Shitty Book Club, Abby Cox, Hoots, Andrewism, Solar Sands, Wrestling with Words, Sabby Sabs, Verilybitchie, Belinda Strnad, Alisha not Alihsha, Veritas et Caritas, Alex Fleev, Patrick(H)Willems, Confused Adipose, Shitty Book Club, Leena Norms, Sort of Interesting,
Weirdo Book Club, Emma Thorne, Gutsick Gibbon, Roisin's Reading, Fun Fantasy Books, Riverboat Jack, SSF180, Novara Media, Michael Lambert, Books and Things, Lily Simpson, IamBlakely, The Enemy from Within, Anne Applebaum.
I wish you a splendid morning, a bracing afternoon, an enjoyable evening, a wonderful night and may we all continue learning.
When chosen by a redhaired partner, an interesting life is guaranteed.
I am rewriting the review since Goodreads removed my original. Mentioning certain very nasty serial commenters by member name was deemed "hate" speech. A well known BookTuber writing a review citing overtly racist elements of a popular book also had her review removed for "hate" speech. She then added it to her channel.
It is a strange definition of "Hate" anywhere except Goodreads and the Land of Freedom.
This next was made possible by a visit to the YouTube. Doctor Who/They Break My Heart, NCMI, Anark, The Cosy Creative, LuckyBlackCat, Novara Media, The Fun Size Reader, TheJuiceMedia, Kyiv Post, No Justice, Mina Reads, Lit with Leigh, Alexa Donne, Biz, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, FAFO, Karolina Zebrowska, Well Deck Diaries, SandRhoman History, Izzie and Ciara, Dr Fatima, NFKRZ, Delamer,
Tabithaspeakspolitics, Terrible Writing Advice, Travelling K, Snappy Dragon, Deerstalker Pictures, Dungeons and Discourse, The Grungeon Master, Eileen, Sound of Silence -NiNi Music, Horses, Kyiv Independent, Femi, Supertanskiii, Relish Books, Daniel Green, Bobby Broccoli, Ukraine Calling, Sailing Melody, Bobbing Along, Ben and Emily, Bookish Realm, Write with Caitlin Cherise, Ship Happens, Boat Time,
Vlad Vexler, May, OrangeRiver, Eckharts Ladder, LIbrary Ladder, Ukraine Matters, Brothers Gwynne, Hello Future Me, Princess Weekes, Welcome to Ukraine, Inside Russia, ThePrimeChronus, Lily Simpson, Lady of the Library, Fall of Civilisations, Smooth Criminal - Jingxuan, Hotel California - Moyun, Rebecca Watson, Gutsick Gibbon, Times Radio, Sci-Fi Odyssey, Spacedock, Emperor Tigerstar, North of MAGA.
Rudolph Kohn,
Military Aviation History, Northern Pulse, Sailing Melody, Bobbing Along, Cruising Crafts, Cruising Alba, Cruising on the Border, Natasha's Adventures, Eugenia from Ukraine, Military History Visualized, Hello Future Me, Jay Exci, Larry&Paul, Mynameismarines, Fit 2B Read, Authors Behaving badly, Eric Karl Anderson, Dr Benjamin Thomas, History with Kayleigh, CBC News Nova Scotia,
Northern Narrowboaters, Sabston - Soldier of Heaven Ukraine, Cruising the Cut, Eckharts Ladder, Library Ladder, Andrewism, Hoots, Abby Cox, MSI - Songs Sped Up, Ministry of Miniatures, Generic Entertainment, Kat Blacque, Raw News and Politics, The Interesting Times, Think Ukraine, TableTop CP, Then and Now, Zoe Bee, House of El, Lily Kincade, Gingers are Black, Alizee.
A Snowflake (poorly socialised, nasty, unselfaware US baby-man) recently whilst insulting an essayist I reference, complained to her that I list other trans creators.
Besides my continuing bemusement at the stupidity and viciousness of Snowflakes, I realised a trigger warning is warranted.
I list channels with archaeologist, marine biologist. bi, Canadian, economist, sewist, asexual, socialist, blond, cosplayer, tall, fashion historian, trans, redhaired, WOC, model painter, Indian, lesbian, boat builder, language historian, mathematician, writer, intersex, architect, communist, paleontologist, cis, military boardgamer, farmer, model builder, queer, primatologist, Bahamian, het, pensioner, miniatures builder and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening to the Snowflake are channels which include military analyst, artist, neurodivergent, Irish, physicist, wood worker, political scientist, other LGBTQI+, anarchist, other military historian, culture critic, Cornish, boat restorer, other fashion historian, philosopher, physicist, ginger, Ugandan, other BIPOC, mathematician and other creators who are known (outside the USA) as Human Beings.
Should the voices insist you visit reviews or channels, I suggest seeking out the nearest Taoist monastery, developing a new skill (such as reading) or emergency pastoral counselling.
My feelings towards those clods are similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island, when their surrender was demanded. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Currently the science fiction story most often involves a hero ship usually smaller than a Russian oligarch's super-yacht, a ragtag crew of four to eight with stereotypical traits rather than personalities.
This features a battleship, so I imagine the male, American captain or whatever of an all American crew saves humanity, conquers the galaxy or whatever. The human race is grateful forever.
The "plots" are vaguely connected scenes generating no unpredictable consequences. There will be spaceship chases, incomprehensible battle scenes with predictable (against all odds) outcomes and usually inappropriate banter in lieu of dialogue. With no solid characters or worldbuilding there are almost no other options.
Tropism does not reflect the long history of the genre. At the very least, the genre attempts to challenge aspects of society, current historical understanding or the possibilities of engineering and science against their impacts on society, redefines the political or discusses the philosophical.
I had imagined that most readers appreciate a hint of those in their entertainment but I admit that I was wrong.
Consider treating this as a hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse is a myth. As example, I wrote a six or seven sentence review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), advocate for the return of chattel slavery (popular position in the USA with a new forced labour prison for the homeless being completed in the state of Utah), veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency and admirer of Putin and his fascist Russia (another popular position in the USA).
The story was a celebration of the struggle of a newly rich twat attempting to overthrow the US government with the aid of the military in order that he not pay taxes. In addition to the bad writing, I found the book to be unhealthy, dangerous and now prophetic. Sadly it or something like seems to border on a majority of Unlimited science fiction loans.
Travis and six patriotic friends were incensed. They spent pages and wrote months of unhinged comments, including that all black Americans would be sent to Jamaican plantations, socialism is evil, my intellectual capacity was found lacking, the narcissism implicit in my failure to engage and more. There was no mention of the book's brilliance or lack thereof.
I was even treated to my first hacking attempt in that period.
Filth from filth seems appropriate. As a communist, the levels of irony were painful.
The final comment was written by Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now known as Clayton R Jesse, Jr. After referencing the contents of my last message to a Goodreads friend, he announced that "They" had "won" (?).
I discovered that these animals and friends had deluged every female creator I mentioned with racist, misogynistic, ableist and similar comments for a year (sometimes in my name). It continues still.
They failed in their efforts to entice the midteen boater or her mother, primatologist, sewist, mathematician and other creators.
While that campaign failed, They did significantly increase the global overabundance of unpleasantness and deliver to a multinational audience an accurate self-portrait of the Snowflake (poorly educated, very stupid, desperately seeking attention US man-child).
It seems that was a splendid Victory. Goodreads is quite the reader forum.
I have earned her another break on the YouTube. This next was courtesy of Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, NCMI, Politics Girl, Saving Blue Steel, Keffals, Skip Intro, Philosophy Tube, D'Angelo, Petrik Leo, Verilybitchie, Kazachka, Evie Lupine, Michael Lambert, Beck Leavesly, Chandler Ainsley, Skylar Earnhart, EarleWrites, Micro-Digressions, Red Viburnam Song, Riverboat Jack, Words in Time,
Amanda the Jedi, Expert Book Smuggler, Book Furnace, Anna Cramling, Mercado Media, The Friendly Atheist, Honest Government Ads, Todd Maffin, FAFO, The Juice Media, Viva La Dirt League, Britmonkey, The Kavernacle, Nicole Raflee, Book Chats with Shelley, Octopus Lady, Physics Girl, Lindsay Ellis, Your True Shelf, Ellbat, Christy Anne Jones, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Jess Owens, Lily Simpson, Aid Thompsin,
Canada Daily Report, Interesting Times, Xiran Jay Zhao, A Sunny Book Nook, Jen the Librarian, Liz Webster, AllShorts, Central Crossing, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Riverboat Jack, Plant Based Bride, Anka Daily News, A Lil Bit Mads, Hardy's Books, RobWords, Hej Sokoly, ATP Geopolitics, Living Anachronism, Serena Skybourne,
NerdForge, Depressed Russian, Central Crossing, Willow Talks Books, Candlelit Tales, Haropones, Crecganford, Killing Time, Neida Teresa, According to Alina, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Ponderful, Kaz Rowe, Some More News, Times Radio, Kyiv Independent, The Gaze, Abney Park, Fundie Fridays, Reads with Rachel, Books N Cats, Bella Ciao -Nikolay Kutuzov, Mia Mulder, Leftist Cooks, Jessie Gender, Biz,
Contrapoints, Broken Peach, Books with Chloe, Sort of Interesting,Jenny Gillblad, A Day of Small Things, Crow Caller, Boat Time, Ben and Emily, Zoe Baker, Diary of Ditch Witch, Cappy Army, Wes O'Donnell, Battle Order, Gingers are Black, Tibees, Postmodern Jukebox, IMY2, The Pioneer, Chris and Shell.
Ominous music begins. 😊 Outrageous Snowflake behaviour and a most improbable 4+ average rating across the breadth of the Kindle offerings are easily explained.
I eventually realised that Goodreads is not a reader forum nor a simple popularity contest amongst the semi-literate but a consensus enforcement mechanism. To challenge racist, misogynist, US supremacist or other anti-human themes, tropes or writer rants is to invite Amazon, Kindle and Goodreads retribution.
Amazon have to my knowledge never acknowledged incidents or taken steps to discipline psychotic members, punish writers who organise gangs or to dismiss employees enabling doxxing, stalking, threats and more, aimed at one or two star reviewers and now booktubers in the romance or speculative fiction spaces.
Female readers and those of Colour are particularly targeted, though even the white male must prepare to weather the storm, should he transgress. Free speech is here defined as not acknowledging - bad prose, awful political messaging, poor pacing, sad character depiction, no editing, etc and to do otherwise seems frowned upon in this US reader forum.
After my review of Powers, my limited message history was given over to these unhinged but cowardly little men and Their partners. This generated a request from Pine Gap Centre that Australian Security services interrogate the one Goodreads friend whom I occasionally messaged.
They failed in Their information gathering and created two outraged customers. This was comically illegal in both countries but very dangerous to me. I gather that US members in the main do not understand that last sentence.
After we began widely sharing that information, Amazon suddenly developed something similar to concern. No apology, faux upset and the rest. They instead removed all visible harassment from my pages. My page format and options were returned to normal, all Lurkers whom I had not previously been Permitted to remove were suddenly disappeared and more. Even my Kindle service interruptions were ended.
There were several half hearted attempts after, to join my friend list and a recent alteration to my keyboard without option to reset. With my mention of both in reviews and elsewhere, the worms crawled back under their rocks. When I pictured madlads, I imagined the SAS in North Africa not cowardly, near literates, newly evicted from a parent's basement.
See my Powers review for a relatively complete recounting of Amazon's treatment of one customer.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produce a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind to EBay. The couple were awarded millions and the ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such.
With the licence given to US data firms by the current government, I expect both incidents and severity to increase.
For a measure of safety on this site, I suggest several precautions. Remove all personal information from Goodreads profile and avoid messaging. Remove lurkers, those who never post. They are likely monitors for comment gangs or employee dummies, not admirers.
Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering the pages of customers, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. The above should be sufficient.
Safer forums are Storygraph, Fable, Bookwise, Read Tracker and Booksley. Victoria Masters' book channel describes them and others.
Kindle are another matter. Do Not use Kindle Files, Calendar, Email or Contacts. I confirmed on accident that Amazon employees read customer emails without permission or notice. Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" ebooks from Amazon. You own your device but not any download. They may be deleted or altered at Amazon's whim. Even Kindle access to the internet may be interdicted.
Should your Amazon account be terminated all books are deleted. There are Book. Tubers able to direct a reader to alternative ebook and device vendors. They may also suggest alternatives to e-book purchase.
Any immunity you enjoy at present rests on the whims of seriously damaged readers and employees. These animals, member and employee alike are unchecked by Amazon, embrace no non-Randian morality nor are They healthily socialised but They are American patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe. May we all discover Good Reading! 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
NCMI, The Military Show, aidan knight, Gary's Economics, Nerdy Kathi, Owen Jones, The London History Show, Mrs Betty Bowers, Philosophy Tube, Munecat, Some More News, Amie's Literary Empire, ScaredKetchup, Cambrian Chronicles, What Rae Reads, It's Black Friday, The Queer Kiwi, Adam Something, What Vivi did next,
Tale Foundry, Ben and Emily, Bobbing Along, Caelan Conrad, Kiko1006, Starbound, Dark Brandon, Bask in the Story, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Spoiled Librarians, Bart's Book Space, Book Belle, Skip Intro, US Agenda Channel, Lily Alexandre, Book Spin, Joseph Reads Books, Media Death Cult, Kathy's Flog in France, UATV English, ATP Geopolitics, Wurld, Cruising Crafts, Cruising Alba, Cruising the Cut,
Snappy Dragon, Lily Simpson, Jean's Thoughts, Squire, Swell Entertainment, Grammaticus Books, Art Deco, Mandy, Omeleto, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, May, Puddles Pity Party, Lilly's Life, Lex aka NewlyNova, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Rachel Oates, Madeline Maye, Eileen,
Maggie Mae Fish, Kirkpattiecake, RFU News, , Zoe Baker, Anna Fern, Peter Stefanovic, Brittany Page, Northern Narrowboaters, Lady of the Library, Scholars Shelf, Adult Wednesday Addams -2 seasons, A Day of Small Things, JammiDodger, Paige Elizabeth, Rowan Ellis, Ivie Anita, For the Love of Story, Nikkis's Book Nook, NanyaCim,
Chris Animations, Cass Ellis, Ministry of Miniatures, Grungeon Master, Viva La Dirt League, Discourse Minis, Aid Thompsin, Worldbuilding Corner, Verilybitchie, Kings and Generals, DUST, The Second Story, Bookpilled, Ukraine News TV, Willow Talks Books, Outlaw Bookseller, Deerstalker Pictures, Squire, The Leftist Cooks, Wednesday - Bloody Mary, Book Belle, The Juice Media, Guard the Leaf,
Reese Waters, Jack Edwards, OrangeRiver, Think Ukraine, Swell Entertainment, Silicon Curtain, Truth to Power, Aaron Read a Book, Prime of Midlife, Wednesday - Paint It Black, JuLingo, The British Museum, Brandon Fisichella, Lynn Saga, Fiona Hill,
Atun Shei Films, The Tank Museum, Lily Alexandre, ConeofArc, Certifiably Ingame, Time Tinkerer, TVP News, Lisandra Vazquez, NanyaCim, Red Plateaus, Chess Vibe, FAFO, The ThePrImeChronus, The Authentic Observer, Cecilia Blomdahl, Tall Guy Reads, Savy Writes Books, Matriarchetype, Ember Green, Sarah Paine,
The Orbital, Event Horizon, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Shitty Book Club, Abby Cox, Hoots, Andrewism, Solar Sands, Wrestling with Words, Sabby Sabs, Verilybitchie, Belinda Strnad, Alisha not Alihsha, Veritas et Caritas, Alex Fleev, Patrick(H)Willems, Confused Adipose, Shitty Book Club, Leena Norms, Sort of Interesting,
Weirdo Book Club, Emma Thorne, Gutsick Gibbon, Roisin's Reading, Fun Fantasy Books, Riverboat Jack, SSF180, Novara Media, Michael Lambert, Books and Things, Lily Simpson, IamBlakely, The Enemy from Within, Anne Applebaum.
I wish you a splendid morning, a bracing afternoon, an enjoyable evening, a wonderful night and may we all continue learning.
When chosen by a redhaired partner, an interesting life is guaranteed.
June 7, 2025
DNR
In the future, humanity is facing an interstellar enemy the Blaze collective. Security of the species lies on two sets of shoulders, Blue Earth Protectorate (BEP), in charge of protecting Earth's solar system with second hand gear and personnel, and Space Fleet with cutting edge technology and best of the best cadres. A previously lying dormant ship of ancient aliens, progenitors (progs) has been discovered and much lies at stake for humanity being able to adapt prog technology to stalemate the conflict for longer or win. Little did they know, the star ship has a sentient AI in charge and has been monitoring humanity all along.
The constant banter between not only space fleet's shock trooper squad mates but between major and admiral of the space fleet diffuses the supposed tension to a level of a 5 year olds birthday party. The 5 year old is excited so adults support his excitement but most really don't care. The whole military being completely accepting and reworking it's doctrine based on supposedly sentient AI's good will is infantile and doesn't fit the riged order that military is supposed to have.
Conclusion: 2/5. Listened on Audible included in plus catalogue. Narrated by: Shawn Compton. Space opera, ignore the, from perspective of humans, god-like sentient machine. It says it's a pacifist and will support us, the widely known for not having a single year without an active war in it's history species. Trust it, bro, don't be an AI-phobe. Terrible value for the length of the book - 1.96 $/hour ( 17.19 $ / 08 hrs 47 mins ).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
Stars:
1 - Not worth the resources to reproduce/preserve this title.
2 -Bad
3 -Good
4 - Personally, love it
5 - Recommended to everyone
In the future, humanity is facing an interstellar enemy the Blaze collective. Security of the species lies on two sets of shoulders, Blue Earth Protectorate (BEP), in charge of protecting Earth's solar system with second hand gear and personnel, and Space Fleet with cutting edge technology and best of the best cadres. A previously lying dormant ship of ancient aliens, progenitors (progs) has been discovered and much lies at stake for humanity being able to adapt prog technology to stalemate the conflict for longer or win. Little did they know, the star ship has a sentient AI in charge and has been monitoring humanity all along.
The constant banter between not only space fleet's shock trooper squad mates but between major and admiral of the space fleet diffuses the supposed tension to a level of a 5 year olds birthday party. The 5 year old is excited so adults support his excitement but most really don't care. The whole military being completely accepting and reworking it's doctrine based on supposedly sentient AI's good will is infantile and doesn't fit the riged order that military is supposed to have.
Conclusion: 2/5. Listened on Audible included in plus catalogue. Narrated by: Shawn Compton. Space opera, ignore the, from perspective of humans, god-like sentient machine. It says it's a pacifist and will support us, the widely known for not having a single year without an active war in it's history species. Trust it, bro, don't be an AI-phobe. Terrible value for the length of the book - 1.96 $/hour ( 17.19 $ / 08 hrs 47 mins ).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
Stars:
1 - Not worth the resources to reproduce/preserve this title.
2 -Bad
3 -Good
4 - Personally, love it
5 - Recommended to everyone
April 14, 2022
3.5 stars
This was recommended to me as an easy read by a space-opera fan
An easy read, but it’s also decent military sci-fi with writing and dialogue more suited for the YA market. In addition to the usual military space-opera humans, there is an AI battleship, that’s an interesting and fun character. Sentient ships have been cleverly done by other authors, so I was hoping for a brilliant storyline and unique, well-developed characters. So-so to both hopes.
The first third (or so) of this book reads like a novella about Earth Fleet vessels that operate in deep space, solely for offensive purposes. Each Fleet warship has a Space Ops Force Team (SOFT) aboard—I’m guessing that’s similar to the more “specialized” units of the US Navy SEALs. Major Declan Payne & his SOFTies break into a derelict alien ship and successfully board; then subsequently fight off attacking aliens; and open negotiations with the battleship’s sentient AI. Very good space battles inside the derelict battleship—and outside the ship with Earth Fleet vessels engaging enemy ships.
There seems to be a denouement of sorts at the 40% mark. Perhaps the author wanted to write a novel, but he only had a novella—so he kept writing. The middle of this book slowed as it lost momentum after initial contact, because the mission changed drastically. The denouement is a TBC, because there are more books ahead.
For sentient ships with fully-developed characters, I’ll re-read the Murderbot Diaries featuring A.R.T.
This was recommended to me as an easy read by a space-opera fan
An easy read, but it’s also decent military sci-fi with writing and dialogue more suited for the YA market. In addition to the usual military space-opera humans, there is an AI battleship, that’s an interesting and fun character. Sentient ships have been cleverly done by other authors, so I was hoping for a brilliant storyline and unique, well-developed characters. So-so to both hopes.
The first third (or so) of this book reads like a novella about Earth Fleet vessels that operate in deep space, solely for offensive purposes. Each Fleet warship has a Space Ops Force Team (SOFT) aboard—I’m guessing that’s similar to the more “specialized” units of the US Navy SEALs. Major Declan Payne & his SOFTies break into a derelict alien ship and successfully board; then subsequently fight off attacking aliens; and open negotiations with the battleship’s sentient AI. Very good space battles inside the derelict battleship—and outside the ship with Earth Fleet vessels engaging enemy ships.
There seems to be a denouement of sorts at the 40% mark. Perhaps the author wanted to write a novel, but he only had a novella—so he kept writing. The middle of this book slowed as it lost momentum after initial contact, because the mission changed drastically. The denouement is a TBC, because there are more books ahead.
For sentient ships with fully-developed characters, I’ll re-read the Murderbot Diaries featuring A.R.T.
April 10, 2023
I commend the author for placing his works in the public for feedback. I read the first three books in this series; I won't read the next three.
As implied by the title, these books rely heavily on deus ex machima to advance the plot. Some of the deus... is literal, some is more figurative as when the central protagonist becomes the only being that could do 'X'. Either way, after a few chapters, it was clear that there will be no dramatic tension as the main characters are never seriously threatened by the possibility of not accomplishing that which the set out to do. Or even of dying. When a death is needed, the story introduces throw-away characters.
In a book such as this, I expected the use of various genre-specific tropes. This book (well, the first three books) rely too heavily on them. I saw very clear heritage from the movies Aliens and Starship Troopers that shortcutted any room for actual plot and characterization.
The dramatic tension was weak (as mentioned) and leads to unrealistic resolutions - complete centuries-0ld conflicts wrapped up as if the characters were playing a game of Stratego - just have to capture the flag to win.
I did read the follow-on two books. The universe the author creates is imaginative, and I wanted to see how it evolved. It didn't.
As implied by the title, these books rely heavily on deus ex machima to advance the plot. Some of the deus... is literal, some is more figurative as when the central protagonist becomes the only being that could do 'X'. Either way, after a few chapters, it was clear that there will be no dramatic tension as the main characters are never seriously threatened by the possibility of not accomplishing that which the set out to do. Or even of dying. When a death is needed, the story introduces throw-away characters.
In a book such as this, I expected the use of various genre-specific tropes. This book (well, the first three books) rely too heavily on them. I saw very clear heritage from the movies Aliens and Starship Troopers that shortcutted any room for actual plot and characterization.
The dramatic tension was weak (as mentioned) and leads to unrealistic resolutions - complete centuries-0ld conflicts wrapped up as if the characters were playing a game of Stratego - just have to capture the flag to win.
I did read the follow-on two books. The universe the author creates is imaginative, and I wanted to see how it evolved. It didn't.
January 28, 2022
This book was a wonderful surprise! It took me back to my teen years, where I just couldn't get enough of stories about space.
The military stuff is more recently familiar to me, as I became besotted with David Weber's Honor Harrington series just a year or two ago, and this has the same kind of rough humoured discipline that I found there.
Leviathan is a wonder, though the idea of a sentient spaceship, although from a different source, is very familiar to me with Anne McCaffrey's Brainships though, of course, those brains were actually humans who, through birth defect, or accident, could only survive as shell persons, working either on stations, medical research, or spaceships.
I love that Leviathan has a sense of humour, and has the ability to prefer working with friends - and Major Payne, and he, are certainly friends, despite Leviathan being a pacifist.
I really hope the rest of the series is up to this standard, as it would be heartbreaking if it wasn't - I've already ordered the fourth book of the series, that isn't out in print yet, just because I loved this first book so much!
So, it's on to book two in the series: Leviathan's War, so I can continue this rollercoaster ride through space!
The military stuff is more recently familiar to me, as I became besotted with David Weber's Honor Harrington series just a year or two ago, and this has the same kind of rough humoured discipline that I found there.
Leviathan is a wonder, though the idea of a sentient spaceship, although from a different source, is very familiar to me with Anne McCaffrey's Brainships though, of course, those brains were actually humans who, through birth defect, or accident, could only survive as shell persons, working either on stations, medical research, or spaceships.
I love that Leviathan has a sense of humour, and has the ability to prefer working with friends - and Major Payne, and he, are certainly friends, despite Leviathan being a pacifist.
I really hope the rest of the series is up to this standard, as it would be heartbreaking if it wasn't - I've already ordered the fourth book of the series, that isn't out in print yet, just because I loved this first book so much!
So, it's on to book two in the series: Leviathan's War, so I can continue this rollercoaster ride through space!
October 14, 2021
Battleship Leviathan - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
After prolonged attacks by the Progenitor's forces, Major Declan Payne and those under his command, must wait in ambush for the so-called Blaze Collective, aboard the eponymous Battleship, that looks like an ancient, drifting piece of space debris, in Craig Martelle's new military space opera, series, with the same title, Battleship Leviathan.
Yet the AI-controlled Leviathan, can link telepathically with those on board - making Lev a powerful weapon, but one with full control over any decisions made...and, unexpectedly, he's a pacifist!
Can Payne and his team overcome the enemy's dreadnoughts, before more 'Blazes' arrive?
Who's on the Cleophas and how will they deal with this mortal enemy if they capture them?
Recommended to fans of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, Battleship Leviathan has great characters, a believable storyline and a wry humour from AI Lev, that seems almost human at times...C3PO and R2D2's lovechild, maybe?
Get your copy today and buckle up for a wild ride!
After prolonged attacks by the Progenitor's forces, Major Declan Payne and those under his command, must wait in ambush for the so-called Blaze Collective, aboard the eponymous Battleship, that looks like an ancient, drifting piece of space debris, in Craig Martelle's new military space opera, series, with the same title, Battleship Leviathan.
Yet the AI-controlled Leviathan, can link telepathically with those on board - making Lev a powerful weapon, but one with full control over any decisions made...and, unexpectedly, he's a pacifist!
Can Payne and his team overcome the enemy's dreadnoughts, before more 'Blazes' arrive?
Who's on the Cleophas and how will they deal with this mortal enemy if they capture them?
Recommended to fans of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, Battleship Leviathan has great characters, a believable storyline and a wry humour from AI Lev, that seems almost human at times...C3PO and R2D2's lovechild, maybe?
Get your copy today and buckle up for a wild ride!
October 9, 2022
Days of boredom interspersed with hours of terror!
The headline is not mine but a sentiment of my father.
Dad always gave the vibe of the importance of team work and mates. If you were on the team expect grief from the others but never let anyone else take pot shots.
Finding an active warship (?) left by an alien race that is fully autonomous and sentient sitting in earths' back yard - and managing to bring it to ones side for assistance is a mighty task. Major Paynes' team thankfully is up to it. Oh, and lest I forget, the ship is telepathic and a pacifist with a sense of humour.
Cue massive space battles interspersed with comfort oriented requests.
The team is tasked with ending the war peacefully - and learning more about the Collective (the opponent) - multiple races bound together (how?)
The interactions with REMFs brings to mind my fathers descriptions (few) of when engaging in combat and putting into port.
Totally enjoyable read.
Disclaimer - I received a copy in a group giveaway.
The headline is not mine but a sentiment of my father.
Dad always gave the vibe of the importance of team work and mates. If you were on the team expect grief from the others but never let anyone else take pot shots.
Finding an active warship (?) left by an alien race that is fully autonomous and sentient sitting in earths' back yard - and managing to bring it to ones side for assistance is a mighty task. Major Paynes' team thankfully is up to it. Oh, and lest I forget, the ship is telepathic and a pacifist with a sense of humour.
Cue massive space battles interspersed with comfort oriented requests.
The team is tasked with ending the war peacefully - and learning more about the Collective (the opponent) - multiple races bound together (how?)
The interactions with REMFs brings to mind my fathers descriptions (few) of when engaging in combat and putting into port.
Totally enjoyable read.
Disclaimer - I received a copy in a group giveaway.
July 8, 2023
Too Casual, Silly and Foolish
The overall flow of the story is fine but the dialogue and character interactions are too casual and goofy. Nothing like true military discipline. Officers act childish sometimes with goofy dialogue and swearing. The main “team” gripe and chatter at each other in bawdy banter that doesn’t fit with how you’d expect a real professional military team to act. It seems like the author is trying to make the team act similar to the team in Aliens…but they were a bunch of screwups in a condensed, made for movie story. Not a novel where you can take the time to flesh out characters. Also, there was a definite lack of descriptions of ships and scenes. The alien race that has been threatening earth for years was given a brief, two sentence description. I got 42% in before I decided that I couldn’t take this book seriously and had to shelve it.
The overall flow of the story is fine but the dialogue and character interactions are too casual and goofy. Nothing like true military discipline. Officers act childish sometimes with goofy dialogue and swearing. The main “team” gripe and chatter at each other in bawdy banter that doesn’t fit with how you’d expect a real professional military team to act. It seems like the author is trying to make the team act similar to the team in Aliens…but they were a bunch of screwups in a condensed, made for movie story. Not a novel where you can take the time to flesh out characters. Also, there was a definite lack of descriptions of ships and scenes. The alien race that has been threatening earth for years was given a brief, two sentence description. I got 42% in before I decided that I couldn’t take this book seriously and had to shelve it.
October 7, 2021
This is a good tale. After having read probably 80% of Craig Martelle's work and enjoying all of it, I have to admit I felt a little trepidation when I read the blurb introducing this novel - only because the premise has been overdone by so many authors before him. Earthlings begin to explore space and are suddenly confronted by a mysterious and powerful foe who seeks only to destroy. Amazingly, they find an ancient ship of unknown origin and power . . . . To my delight, Craig was able to take this starting point and through outstanding character development and plot twists make it his own. Have to admit, he left me anxious to see the next volume in the series to see where the characters wind up. Well worth the time to read for an exciting ride.
October 16, 2021
Thoroughly awesome read!
I fell in love with the Team right away; the Major most of all. He accepted a lonelier than normal life, commanding a SpecOps team fighting for peace. The action is fast & descriptive; thank goodness they were so armored up & had such effective weapons!
And then he meets a like-minded being; A Battleship the team named Leviathan. Leviathan, an AI running the ship the Major's team was ordered to get into, took a liking to the Major.
That may sound a bit basic, but I don't want to spoil it for others. Lev has been around a while & developed a fun side. And he's a Pacifist.
This story could go on for a while, & I would that very much. There's much potential here.
I fell in love with the Team right away; the Major most of all. He accepted a lonelier than normal life, commanding a SpecOps team fighting for peace. The action is fast & descriptive; thank goodness they were so armored up & had such effective weapons!
And then he meets a like-minded being; A Battleship the team named Leviathan. Leviathan, an AI running the ship the Major's team was ordered to get into, took a liking to the Major.
That may sound a bit basic, but I don't want to spoil it for others. Lev has been around a while & developed a fun side. And he's a Pacifist.
This story could go on for a while, & I would that very much. There's much potential here.
July 6, 2022
Military space opera that I liked well enough that at the end I considered reading the second book in the series... and decided not to.
The story has some nice features including an alien space ship left over from a progenitor race that was supposed to end the war in its time, telepathic and actually likes the human tactical team that encounters it. It even has a sense of humor. in general the setup isn't bad as humanity faces an implacable foe and the ship is a tremendous help. The ship itself is a puzzle as it is described as being incredibly powerful, but while very advanced, turns out to be vulnerable. The story tries to maintain a light sense of military banter between characters in the team who seem mostly generic but the book goes down well as long as you go with the flow.
The story has some nice features including an alien space ship left over from a progenitor race that was supposed to end the war in its time, telepathic and actually likes the human tactical team that encounters it. It even has a sense of humor. in general the setup isn't bad as humanity faces an implacable foe and the ship is a tremendous help. The ship itself is a puzzle as it is described as being incredibly powerful, but while very advanced, turns out to be vulnerable. The story tries to maintain a light sense of military banter between characters in the team who seem mostly generic but the book goes down well as long as you go with the flow.
March 23, 2023
This is my first novel by this author and even though I enjoyed the story and pace, I was not happy with the situational awareness of the author. Several times I was reading along with a story built in my mind's eye and all of sudden a character that had left the scene was suddenly there again. I found myself flipping back several times trying to rectify the situation with no resolution. The commodore was removed and then there she was scowling at the admiral. Not good. Character building was minimal and the scenes weren't really developed enough to give a good picture of what was transpiring. I hope that as the story progresses through the added books the author's story telling gets better.
October 7, 2021
An interesting premise, a pacifistic warship.
For the first book in a series this was OK. Very interesting mix of characters some good, some bad and of course one oddball. Some action, not enough for me, can’t get past the fact that the starship in this book is a pacifist. The story though is interesting not sure what I think about all the characters, maybe too many. Have to see where the series goes, I am willing to give the next book a try. You may enjoy this one the author does have some good riding acumen. Give it a shot.
For the first book in a series this was OK. Very interesting mix of characters some good, some bad and of course one oddball. Some action, not enough for me, can’t get past the fact that the starship in this book is a pacifist. The story though is interesting not sure what I think about all the characters, maybe too many. Have to see where the series goes, I am willing to give the next book a try. You may enjoy this one the author does have some good riding acumen. Give it a shot.
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