Deep Space

Star Carrier, Book Four

By: Ian Douglas

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The fourth book in the epic saga of humankind's war of transcendence

Humanity had appeared to fend off the Sh'daar assault once and for all, though they never learned why the alien empire was driven to halt Earth's advancement toward technological Singularity.

But in this war of worlds, victory is always elusive. And now a new battle begins.

After 20 years of peace, not one but two fragile truces are unraveling. Alexander Koenig, the former Navy commander whose heroics forced the Sh'daar into submission, has won a second term as President of the United States of North America. But pursuing his mandate - sovereignty from the centuries-old Earth Confederation - becomes a risky proposition due to events taking place on the other side of the galaxy. A Confederation research vessel has been ambushed. Destroyers are descending on a human colony. It seems the Sh'daar have betrayed their treaty, and all nations must stand united - or face certain death.

©2013 William H. Keith, Jr. (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Somewhat lost the plot there a bit.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

New to the series? No. As a continuation, yes, but with a few caveats. He lost the plot here a bit. Instead of continuing the question between Aliens and Humans, we now spend a whole lot of time on a contrived internal human conflict that really only makes sense if you somehow belief in American Exceptionalism.

Has Deep Space turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not from the genre, but I am questioning if I want to read the next book in the series.

What does Nick Sullivan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think he adds a bit more character to the individuals he portraits. Douglas isn't really all that good in creating characters, they all are pretty two-dimensional.

Was Deep Space worth the listening time?

Still split on it. It was more of what was expected, but at the same time also more disappointing.

Any additional comments?

I wish Douglas would concentrate on the human vs.alien dynamic instead of trying to project human global politics 500 years into the future. The problem for me, as a non-american, is simply that I don't buy American Exceptionalism and his repeated retreat to it is annoying. It was, I admit, always there, but in the past books it was more a bit of a faint echo in the back, with this book though he has gone full tilt.

So yes, he's America and served in the military and that he concentrates on ships that could be considered American is understandable and forgivable. But his portrail of the rest of humanity is less than flattering. If they aren't scheming people who try to destroy the "United States" (thinly veiled as USNA), they are shown as completely militarily incompetent. Funnily enough, it seems, they also all seem to be French. Guess Douglas likes his cheese eating surrender monkeys.

Space is awesome! A lot of repeating though.

I find this series of books very addictive, because they describe space and all the questions the universe represent, so well it all most feels like reading our future.

There is still a lot of repeating of things through out the book which can be annoying. But the storytelling is very good in my opinion. Sure it's convenient that the main characters are so involved and seem to beat all odds. But it makes for a good story.

I love it.!

required to leave a message so here it is

on my past I've listened to many of these books in this series and it was pretty interesting I really wish that you continue here actually skipped passes but the one point hey how this is me using google voice to text just for the hell of it so I can get this review

I am buying the next book right now

Love this series. I listened to this with my teenage son, and he loved it too.

Amazing!

the depth of this book are only bettered by the action and complex character relationships, we need more.

Lots of ?????'s

I love this series and I am looking forward to more of it. However this book seems to get lost in itself and in the end nothing great has been accomplished. It basically ends at the same point it begins with no real new information given about the situation.

Also there are several "Sub plots" like Grey's girlfriend that are annoying.

Really you could swap out Gregory for Grey and you would have the last book all over again.

Great space battles, pulpy sci-fi

What made the experience of listening to Deep Space the most enjoyable?

I love the authors attention to detail with respect to the technology in use in his world. He gets really into the physics of near light-speed combat and creates really fun battle scenes. The politics and story are good too, but its all about the space battles here. That's a perfect sci-fi book to me. It's not "Nebula Award" winning story telling but it's a lot of fun!

What other book might you compare Deep Space to and why?

Kind of like the Lost Fleet series but with a lot less fluffy drama. Great space battles, cool tech, both are a little bit repetitive in how they explain the technology over and over again. The character storylines in this book are a bit better than those in the Lost Fleet series. Really, this book is all about awesome space battles.

What does Nick Sullivan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great narrator, love his pacing and voice.

great space epic

Good book must read or listen, the battles are entertaining as well as the xenolinguistics and biology. this guy has a really cool mind. if you like BSG or any other space story, you will live this story. start with book one or you will be lost.

Glad that's over.

To much info on non-essential stuff. Fire the missle already!!!!!! Hope next one is better.

The story continues!

Ian Douglas continues to deliver. Picking the story up several years after Singularity he delivers a great story that is well paced and diffuct to put down (or stop listening to). Do not start unless you have time on your hands!