Columbus Day

Expeditionary Force, Book 1

De: Craig Alanson

Narrado por: 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

WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT

CHEESEBURGERS
A few months ago I VOLUNTOLD you that BOB would have legions of fans. Now I am telling you this will be the next book to hit number one in Sci-Fi Contemporary. This book has science galore, comedy galore, aliens galore and space battles. To say I love it would be an IMPLIED DUH, but than OVERKILL IS UNDER RATED.

YOU GOT SOME SPLAINING TO DO LUCY
The book is over 16 hours long, and Jim The Impatient listened to all 16+ hours and was entertained all the way. Alanson has great timing and knows how to keep a story from going stale. For example, just when I thought the book was going to enter a shoot-em up phase and become boring, we are introduced to SKIPPY, an A-HOLE AI, who is witty and funny. There is something here for all Sci-Fi fans. Nothing is really new, but a lot of the good old stuff is used. For instance there are ELDERS, CLIENT RACES, PATRONS, ANCIENT ARIFACTS AND THE COLLECTIVE.

EMBRACE THE SUCK
I am not saying this is my favorite, just that it will hit number one. My favorites in the category and in order are, The Martian, Ready Player One, Bob and than this book. Some might roll their eyes at the serendipity of finding Skippy and all that he does to get them out of trouble, but if you can get past that you will love this.

SCREW ONE SHEEP
I have been listening to books since the cassette days. I have heard lots of great narrators. I don't believe I have ever heard one grow in their job as well as Bray. He started out good, with his great voice, but what he has put into the last couple of books, I have listened to has just blown my mind. Based on the last two books, he read for me, I would say he has to be my favorite.

ALPHA MIKE FOXTROT

A Book to Lighten Up the Mood

Any additional comments?

This is one of those shallow, entertaining on-the-rails rollercoaster books I love. The whole point is escapism and laughs. Sorry, but there isn't any real character development, giant allegories, or any of that silly "literature" stuff here.

What we do have is one poor combat grunt that keeps ending up in the worst possible place at the worst possible times. Each time he ends up there good ol' Lady Luck comes around and beats him with a baseball bat filled with love and barbwire. Plucky plans against different enemy alien shenanigans and a fateful meeting with a uproarious lonely male (weird right?) AI ensues. The AI even admits that he's a jerk.

So if you want a hilarious adventure romp on easy mode, pick this book up, I mean it is like Old Man's War or Willful Child. If not, go pick up I dunno, 2001 or something.

It doesn't get to a climax.

Fun read, but I expect 16 hour audiobooks to have a climax. This one just stops at a random point and is like "go buy the next chapter."

Narrator made the story amazing!

It's a great story, but the accent of the narrator really makes the story pop and really gives you an amazing immersive experience.

WOW

What made the experience of listening to Columbus Day the most enjoyable?

I got into the book right away, which is very unusual. Loved the plot! Loved the performance! I hardly ever write review. Never read very much because I am a very slow reader and I do not feel comfortable among heavy readers. Feels stupid and that's why I never write reviews. Audio books are perfect for me and sci-fi in space is my favorite. As an engineer, I am technical minded and pay very much attention to the law of physics and hate it when it's violated in books/movies. I didn't find any in this book and that is very rare. Thank you! I want more :-)

This is a great romp with a good humorous spin!!!

If you enjoy a good book with a sci-fi Military genre and a heaping dose of irony and comedy then this is the book for you! Seriously listen to this book you'll love it!! Also the narration is top notch!!!

Superb in every way!

This book was good and I thought,eh not bad. Then Skippy showed up and it really went into high gear!!

This stupid monkey doesn’t mind saying Skippy rocks!

Do not miss this. Has become one of my top 10!

Starts slow but has shiploads of charm

What did you like best about this story?

It starts pretty slow but by the end I was really rooting for the characters and enjoying the action.

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

I *love* R.C. Bray from the Arisen series. He's my favorite audio book narrator. However, the New Yorker accent that he inexplicably adopts for the protagonist is absolutely awful. It's obnoxious and he slips in and out of it from one sentence to the next. His voice for Skippy is great though.

Q: How can someone bad review this?

A: There is a high probability that that person is either a P.O.G., or a civilian.

That’s okay, we ain’t judging. :P

I’ve hesitated purchasing this do to some negative reviews that somehow sit at the top of the “Reviews” list. Im going to slap myself for waiting so long. If you are hesitating right now, slap yourself as well.

It took a while to get going

Its not a bad story but it could be much better. It starts off slow and corny as hell, but it gets much better about half way in, with better comedy than intrigue and suspense.

If you like military books about defending against alien invasions, feel free to knock yourself out. If you are looking for something a bit more nuanced, maybe this is not the best story to choose from.