The Nelson Touch

Ark Royal, Book 2

By: Christopher G. Nuttall

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Ark Royal - the Royal Navy’s outdated space carrier - has won a smashing victory against the enigmatic aliens, capturing one of their starships and returning to Earth. Now, Admiral Theodore Smith and his crew are assigned to command a fleet charged with making a deep-penetration raid into alien territory, a fleet made up of carriers from four different nations. But with a crewman who isn't what he seems, untested pilots and international friction - and a new and dangerous alien plan - can Ted and his crew survive their mission...or will they die, alone and unremarked, hundreds of light years from home?

©2014 Christopher G. Nuttall (P)2014 Audible Inc.

An Enjoyable Story

As of book 2 of the Ark Royal trilogy, I am definitely enjoying the series. The story is engaging and and full of unique flavor. The military feels realistic and I felt like the aliens are really alien, not just men in rubber masks (metaphorically speaking). The performance is well done and never pulled me out of the story.

My main complaint with the book(s) is that the author's writing can be repetitive. I can't count the number of times I've heard the phrases "give the aliens a bloody nose", "knock them back on their heels", and other such phrases. Again, repetitive speech is something that is normal to people, but way too many people used the exact same wording for things and it felt like the first draft of the book just got published without any rewriting of overused words and phases.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend the series to anyone with a love of first contact scifi and a tolerance for occasionally rough writing.

Great story

I can't wait to get to next book, see what happens. great characters, plots of action.

Commendable sequel with an evolving story arc

The Nelson Touch is a great sequel that builds on the above average introductory story of the Ark Royal series. Basically Nuttall has created a future universe with faster than light travel, while preserving the current geopolitical structures during an era of expansion akin to 18th and 19th century colonialism. In the opening salvo, mankind encounters an alien race seemingly bent on human annihilation. An old, mothballed British "carrier" is the only spaceship that can put up a fight and takes the lead with a crew of rejects in defending humanity.

In this installment, humanity goes on the offensive and takes the fight to the aliens with several surprising developments. Details about the aliens are slowly revealed. There is the addition of a "mystery" crew member this time out and Nuttall does a great job of alternating big picture developments with a host of personal revelations with the major characters, including career advancements. Nutall also displays an excellent sense of portraying the fog of war throughout. Finally, the author sets up the 3rd installment with Earth hanging in the balance and a potential diplomatic solution. Sci-fi elements are limited largely to alien biology.

The narration is excellent with a great range of voices, tone, and mood.

Almost excellent

Needs just a little more effort on the physics to be a great not just very good yarn. Some sting similarities to "The Lost Fleet" series. But worth a listen.

The War continues

Once again I have enjoyed reading the second book in this series. We see the Ark Royal go into battle, but this time Admiral Smith is leading his own fleet. But there is a shock for the crew when it is discovered that Prince Henry has been a member of the new fighter pilots assigned. But as expected the battle never goes as planned. Looking forward to the next book.

Great follow up

loved it though there are always moments where the story slows, it was an excellent listen!

Better than book one!

After getting used to the narrator I find this book to be quite enjoyable. So far a good series that has captured my imagination.

Not a strong follow up

More characters introduced making it difficult to keep track of individuals. Ending seems more a segue to the next book and I like more of beginning and end relying on interesting characters to bring me back for a new installment.

Unspeakable Aliens

An excellent series so far, however it had started becoming repedetive, I'm glad the cliffhanger at the end of this book promises storyline movement.

Great Series!!

This series is a fun listen, the story is good, the characters are well crafted and the narration while not prefect is still an 8. this is my 3rd time to listen to this series and at least foe me in gets better and better.