Victorious by Jack Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve been meaning to write this review for two months, when I finished this book and the series. I have so many books sitting around waiting to be reviewed, it’s not even funny. As a result of this long delay, I’ve unfortunately forgotten most of the book’s details and can’t give it the thorough type of review I would normally want to give to a Lost Fleet book. Oh well.
This is the book I – and everyone else – have been waiting for! Finally, questions are going to be answered and issues are going to be resolved, right? Well, most are! Captain “Black” Jack Geary and the battered Alliance fleet, led by his ship’s captain, Tanya Desjani (who we’ve all been rooting for to get together with Geary, despite their differences in rank), have finally, finally, finally, after five long, repetitive damn books made it home from the Syndicate Worlds and Geary prepares to give his report as fleet captain. However, the Alliance Council is so scared of him and his power, that they make him Fleet Admiral and send him right back to the scene of the first book, the capital of the Syndicate Worlds, to force their surrender and end this 100-year war. And he does it. And, naturally, kicks some ass doing it.
However, there’s the disturbing mystery and question of the aliens. Who are they, what do they want, and how does the Alliance defeat them if it comes to that? Naturally, Geary takes his fleet to the other end of Syndicate space where he finally encounters the aliens himself and, naturally, kicks ass. Because that’s what happens in Jack Campbell’s books. The hero cannot.ever.lose.
And that’s it. Right? Oh yeah, there’s that last one little issue of Desjani and Geary, right? Will they finally become an official item? Well, Campbell tries to throw a twist in there and scare the reader, but you pretty much know what will happen. You’d have to be an idiot not to.
I gave most of the books in this six book series four stars because they were pretty good, well told/written, interesting (for the most part), had some good drama and mystery, just the right amount of politics, and some kick ass space battles. My primary complaint book after book was the sheer lunacy on the part of the author to use the weaponry he used on his spaceships based on 18th century Earth ships (grapeshot – literally). It’s utterly ridiculous. However, I’m not going to knock a star off for that today because I finally felt pretty satisfied with one of these books and found the ending pretty satisfying as well. Most definitely not the best military science fiction I’ve ever read, but not bad. I’d read more of his stuff. That’s about the highest praise I know how to give. Five stars and recommended if you’re reading the series.
hankrules2011 