5 replies to this topic

[Buck Rogers]

I really enjoyed all the BattleTech books I've read because the technology, good guys, bad guys, settings, cultures depicted, all seemed more plausible than in a lot of Sci-Fi books, and the writing style was geared for entertainment.

In the same way, I think The Lost Fleet is the most enjoyable book series I've read in the past few years. The universe seems well fleshed out, and the books are simply entertaining to read. They are also the only sci-fi books I've read that really feature relativity as a key component of naval space warfare.

It sometimes comes off like the novelization to a really fantastic sci-fi TV series that was never made. That can be for better or for worse, depending.

The books do have some pretty big flaws, but nothing you can drive a truck through.

The author used to be in the Navy, and often you can see this come out in the writing through little details of life aboard a warship (even if it's a space warship) that most other sci-fi authors wouldn't have included.

The author isn't a 'world building' author, so expect your imagination to have to fill in a heap of stuff. Nothing in the entire book series is visually described in a very in depth way, right down to the ships that make up the focus of the series. However, this doesn't seem to matter, as the authors strengths are inter-character rivalry, plot progression, the action scenes, etc. If you're used to an author that sets up every scene and visual with incredible detail, you will be sorely upset with The Lost Fleet. While some authors shine when it comes to describing every little thing, Jack Campbell shines by not describing every little thing. As odd as that sounds.

If anyone else here reads The Lost Fleet, what do you think?

[Vladdaimpaler]

I've read all but the last 2 or 3 books after the conculision of the main story arc. Pretty good series.

[slide]

Man, these were the best books of read for years. I knocked off books 2-6 of the original series in less than a week, I just couldn't put them down.

Get the "beyond the frontier" books I've read the first 2 books and they are just as good as the originals.

My only problem now is waiting for the next one.

[Buck Rogers]

Likewise. It's totally debatable whether its a good or bad thing, but The Lost Fleet/Beyond The Frontier never gets better. Or worse. Certain events in later books make me remember them more fondly, but basically the craftsmanship, action, and adventure remains the same.

Which is fine for me, cause it's incredibly entertaining, and it means I'll likely never be let down, haha.

I'm also looking forward to the book coming out this year telling the war from the Syndic side of things. By and large the Syndics seem like wiener heads, but some seemed like they'd be really fun to read about.

[Thwack]

Yah i picked one up last year and loved it so I grabbed all the others in the series. Also, if you like the space opera type stuff I just read Ragnarok by Patrick Vanner a few months ago and quite enjoyed that one as well. Written in a similar vein but not quite as polished as hes a new writer unlike John G Hemry.

[Reyge]

Yes, I own the Lost Fleet series on audio book... it's pretty good!