Columbus Day

Expeditionary Force, Book 1

By: Craig Alanson

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Nominee, Audie Awards - Audiobook of the Year, 2018

We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news.

The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits.

When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved. The UN Expeditionary Force hitched a ride on Kristang ships to fight the Ruhar, wherever our new allies thought we could be useful. So, I went from fighting with the US Army in Nigeria, to fighting in space. It was lies, all of it. We shouldn't even be fighting the Ruhar, they aren't our enemy. Our allies are.

I'd better start at the beginning.

©2016 Craig Alanson (P)2016 Podium Audio

Dr. Who meets Starship Troopers

Highly entertaining and well written but you have to be in the mood for campy, clever, sci-fi. This is not going to enlighten you, teach you about science, or make you think - it's just pure entertainment, but it's fun, and as long as you're not looking for anything deeper, the idiocy and ineptitude of the main character isn't too bad and the plot holes are forgivable. (A hyper intelligent being that can directly manipulate space-time can't access a computer in another room...really?) but it adds levity and its clever so, like I said, the plot holes are forgivable. If you've ever wondered what would happen if Dr. Who was stuck in the Starship Troopers universe this book is for you. If you haven't, then you'll probably find the maddeningly stupid main character a bit too much to bear and the campy all powerful time lord a bit too much to believe.

Make it through the first 1/4 of the story and you'll love it.

Don't read what this book is about ahead of time. Go into it blind and you'll enjoy it so much more. Frankly, I initially thought it was a pretty ho-hum story through the first 1/4-1/3 of this book, but ended up LOVING IT! There are two more books in this series that are not on audible? Why not? It is an imaginative story in many ways and still pretty pedestrian in others, but in all, it makes for a great listen. I'll avoid any spoilers, but the character who makes his entrance into this story about 1/4-1/3 of the way into this story is really who makes this so enjoyable! He is affable, lovable and brilliant. As much as you will come to embrace this character, knowing how deeply complex he is, makes one wonder how much we really know about him and if we will see multiple personalities or if you see is what you get. I can't wait to listen to more.

Helluva ride for a normal Joe

What a fantastic yarn!! Great settings, fabulous characters, and a pageturning pace... I really appreciate Joe is your basic run o the mill normal guy thrust into unforseen and inexplicable situations... The first contact and the military details are pulled off fluidly, and generally believable... How everyone reacts and the consequences turns into a thrilling and extraordinarily humorous space adventure... Reminds me of how the movie Full Metal Jacket felt like two movies, only this story doesn't nosedive in the second half. On the contrary, it takes off and is even better than a very good first half... Throw in the fight the good fight against all odds, then liberally douse w/ Skippy, and you've got a delightful SF romp... The narration is superb and adds to the reading experience, and beautifully balances the bi-play between Joe and Skippy w/ like the best of comedy routines at times, and makes all the characters separable... You'll love it, trust me... Can't wait for the further adventures of Beer Can and Meat Sack;)

Great performance, lazy writing

The spine of the story is great, there are some very interesting concepts and power structures. The narrator is spot on, the story is told from the point of view of the main character with knowledge of the events as they unfold. I say the writing is lazy because the info dumps are common, the connections made by the main character are somewhat lacking. The introduction of Skippy is really cool, but I can't help but feel like it's constantly a Deus ex machina all the time. I'll recommend this book simply because the narrator, plot point and pacing make the time fly by. Worth the read, but don't expect Sanderson.

Hes a moron

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Having the main character having a shred of intelligence or wisdom beyond a a corn bread redneck. I grew up on a farm and joined the military. I'm not so simplistic. Hes annoying..

Has Columbus Day turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

What three words best describe R.C. Bray’s voice?

Country military bumkin

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

annoyance