Thursday, March 9, 2017

Jack Campbell's "The Lost Fleet: Dauntless"...A Book Review

112292*

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in a podcast episode where a group discussed Book #1 of Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet series, The Lost Fleet: Dauntless. I read the book but unfortunately, could not join the others in the book discussion.

Too bad--it's a pretty good book.

I was unfamiliar with both the author or the series. Fortunately, the author explained how he came to write the story, and the series. As a reader, knowing his experience in naval warfare helped me better understand the author's point of view. From the text we know Mr. Campbell understands very well how ships at sea maneuver in battle, tactics, reactions, what it must feel like to be involved in something like that.

Of course, this fleet is not at sea, but in space with a powerful enemy, the two forces at war. Captain John "Black Jack" Geary finds himself in a new world--actually, it's the same world, but a new time. He was recently discovered having spent the last 100 years in suspended hibernation. He wakes to a new reality where much has changed--family and everyone he knew are gone, and much remains the same--they're still at war.

Captain Geary is an intriguing character study. His exploits are known throughout the fleet. He's a ghost that has returned, but can he live up to the legend? Will he be the man many think he is, as if anyone can live up to the stories told and retold through the decades?

It was a fast read. I'm sure many who have read this first book of the series (and I suspect the other books follow the same successful formula...) have commented that if you like books about naval battles, you'll love this book. I've read almost no books on naval battles and I liked it a lot. I think you will, too.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112292.Dauntless?ac=1&from_search=true

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