SpecOps

Expeditionary Force, Book 2

By: Craig Alanson

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

Colonel Joe Bishop made a promise and he's going to keep it; taking the captured alien starship Flying Dutchman back out.

He doesn't agree when the UN decides to send almost 70 elite Special Operations troops, hotshot pilots, and scientists with him; the mission is a fool's errand he doesn't expect to ever return from. At least, this time, the Earth is safe, right?

Not so much.

©2016 Craig Alanson (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Plot hasn't progressed

The chemistry between Skippy & Joe has become monotonous. I'd estimate Skippy calls Joe a stupid monkey no less that 100 times in this book. The plot is no further along than at the end of the first book. Disappointing.

I have an idea

*In a tight spot*
Human: I have an idea
AI: hahaha monkey thinks he is clever
Human: *explains idea"
AI:........Holy Shit.

This happens word for word 4-5 times.

Repetitive

The same plot from the first book is repeated time and again. I liked the first book, but like so many series the second book brings nothing novel to the story line.

Rinse and repeat

This book takes the same joke from the first book and repeats it over and over and over and over and over...get the picture? I'm not sure why people think it's funny because there is nothing clever about this book. While book one was somewhat original and fun this book is just boring. The characters are flat and the main character is made into a god-like perfect human who can do no wrong and is infinitely humble even when he didn't do anything wrong. Skippy gets really old really fast. certainly won't continue with this series.

excellent world/universe... terrible writing

What did you like best about SpecOps? What did you like least?

I really liked the first book despite instances of poor dialog. The universe Alanson has built and the plot itself is engaging.

I picked up the second book thinking that these issues would be resolved after the first, but I was wrong. They only became worse.

a) So much repetitive language. The author seems reticent to use pronouns instead of repeating the same noun within a 1-3 sentence span.
b) All conversations with Skippy just get more and more annoying. The same jokes are used on repeat and they were only marginally funny the first time.
c) besides the main plot line and the universe the characters inhabit, this reads like a sub-par fan fiction. the protagonist is self-indulgent; it sounds like the internal dialog of someone in middle school.
d) the jokes are awful. a lot of 3-stooges physical comedy and repetitive interplay with Skippy about humans being monkeys.

Alanson's world has a lot of potential, but this material is in need of a good editor. This novel and the last should be re-written into a single volume with at least half of the dialogue removed.

I will probably finish this one out as i'm already 5 hours in, but much of it is painful and don't think I can handle another one.

Which character – as performed by R.C. Bray – was your favorite?

The narrator did the best that could be expected with the material he had to work with.

Repetitive and watered-down

The story seemed forced and less important then book 1. What really started to bother me was the same 2 or 3 scenerios kept playing out over and over. Skippy has no plan, Joe comes up with plan, Skippy cant believe a monkey came up with a plan. Tbat happend about 5 times i swear. Even phrases and information was repeateded. The performance was top notch, the writing was lazy.

Repetitive. Hesitant to Buy the Third Book

I love the fact that it's 15 hours and it's something to keep my mind from going numb when I am on the treadmill, but just barely. The reader has a dynamic voice, which makes up for what the writing lacks. Characters don't develop so who they are on page 10 is who they are on page 1000 --- basically which part of the galaxy they replay the same skit over and over again changes but the book ends where it begins with character and plot development a good author could have accomplished in 3 paragraphs. I am heading to the gym, so I guess I use another credit and get the 3rd....oh well....here's to hoping.

Sadly repetitive

What disappointed you about SpecOps?

Book 2 takes a few elements that worked fairly well in Book 1 and repeats them ad naseum to fill the pages. Did the publisher require a specific page count from the author? The plot is basically a loose collection of randomly appearing, insurmountable problems that end up being resolved by (1) Skippy, using another one of his god-like, deus ex machina powers that aren't mentioned until he explains the solution or (2) Joe's "brilliant" idea that Skippy for some reason could not foresee despite his superpowers, followed by Skippy's grudging acknowledgement of monkeys being smarter than he thought and "I hate my life and monkeys" screams.... Rinse and repeat N times to fill the book.

The rest is filler without much character or plot development. We don't get much in terms of world building, interactions with various aliens or Elders, but we get a ton of pages about Newark. The constant banter between Joe and Skippy worked well in the first book, but eventually became really repetitive and formulaic. Also, Joe's constant inner monologue is cringe-worthy - we get it, you have a strong sense of duty to save everyone and also don't feel like you deserve the promotion to colonel, but how many times does it need to be mentioned???

Would you ever listen to anything by Craig Alanson again?

No, if Book 3 in this series is like Book 2. I liked the first book, but this is just lazy.

What about R.C. Bray’s performance did you like?

Excellent narration.

Welcome to an outer space version of Groundhog Day, but boring.

After the twists and turns of the first book, this sequel was a huge disappointment. I kept listening hoping that it would get better, it did not. Here, I will save you 8 hours... Skippy is really smart, Joe is a dumb monkey but comes up with a good plan, Skippy is mad that Joe had a better idea than him, the plan works, bananas for everyone, repeat. Your Welcome!

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY by NO PATIENCE MAN

BREAKING IT DOWN BARNEY STYLE
I wanted to BLUFF IT, but it is your money. I liked this book and will continue the series, but I did not love it. The book is very funny and that is what saves it. It does have some SCIENCY STUFF to the point of over my head. We are talking lots of physics with wormholes and flat universes. I like the main character Joe. I like the fact that he shows humility, but yet is in charge. It is entertaining 90% of the time. I liked the planet of the week, which this week is an Ice Planet.

BONUS OR BONE US
Keep in mind, I said I like the book and I am going to continue the series. When I listen to book 3, I will wear my lucky underwear. YEA, LUCKY UNDERWEAR IS A REAL THING. For the first hour or two, the sarcastic SKIPPY almost becomes too much. Almost every line is a sarcastic remark by him. I love this type of humor, but the first hour was annoying. The jokes are repeated so many times, that I found myself giving the sarcastic remark before Joe or Skippy did. You always know that Joe is going to think up something Skippy does not think up. You know that Skippy will get upset over that fact. You know that the solution will almost always involve Skippy listening in on the enemy's communications and often manipulating them to make the enemy see or hear something different than the truth. When it is not that, it will have something to do with Skippy making a small worm hole. After a while it became SEMPER TEDIUM. With all that, there is still some LOL moments towards the end and of course the love that is growing between Skippy and Joe.

THAT'S ARE STORY AND WE'RE STICKING TO IT
I am also very interested in the mystery of the Elders, along with a new mystery, involving an unknown race that is using Elder technology for evil uses.

IT IS BETTER TO BE SILENT AND BE THOUGHT AN IDIOT, THAN TO SPEAK AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT

R.C. Bray is no idiot and I will always listen to him speak.

Take my money and give me book 3

Well book two was just as amazing as book one can't wait for book 3
R C brey has done a outstanding job again.

Great!

really enjoyable, just as good as the first book! I can't wait for the third book in the series.

More Cunning Monkeys and Skippy Magic

After reading the first book in this series, I was eager to get right into
the second one. I was so pleased that the second book had only just been
released on Audible and so no waiting time and as anyone who has read a
fantastic book knows, it's the waiting for the next instalment which is the
killer.

So, I fed on Spec Ops, the second instalment of the Expeditionary Force
series with a voracious appetite and I am thrilled to report that it is
every bit as good as the first. So often one can find an excellent opener to
a series only to find that the next book is somewhat of an anti-climax.
Remarkably, Craig Alanson has maintained beautiful consistency here and
every bit of the Bishop and Skippy interactions you came to love in the
first book are here in the second. Just perfect continuity of character and
plot.

One of the key elements in this and the first book that I have come to love
is the often hilarious conversations between Joe Bishop and the A.I known as
Skippy. Alanson has come up with such great characters in both Skippy and
Bishop that the interactions between the two are wonderful. This and the
last book have probably been the only science fiction novels I've actually
laughed out loud while listening too. Alanson has created the perfect real
world balance between humour and serious storyline. His writing genius is
that he has created a balance which feels just so natural as if he
transcribed the conversations from real incarnations of his creations and
put them into his book. I have read quite a bit of science fiction and
although I have many more authors to read in this genre, I can say that so
far I've found this series from Craig Alanson rank in my top 5 books of all
time. That top five includes both his first and second book so, as you can
see, I am pretty enamoured with this writer and his superb story.

The other thing Alanson does so amazingly well is to come up with really
dire situations and then between Skippy and Bishop, come up with a truly
ingenious response. All this wonderful characterization and engrossing plot
is woven together into a naturally flowing narrative. It's as if the author
has sat you down and is telling you the story himself as if it really
happened.

Now, having said all of the above, what really compliments this wonderful
series of books so superbly is the totally excellent narration provided by
R.C Bray. It's true to say that a good book can be destroyed by a poor
narrator but it's also true that an excellent story is elevated even further
by a great narrator. The essence of the story and the characters Alanson has
written are perfectly realized by Bray's wonderful reading of this book. I
am so pleased that Bray was the one selected for this project as I can think
of no other, bar none I have listened to, that could do this book more
justice.

As I am a reader that notices tiny inconsistencies, I have to make mention
of two small such examples I noticed. At the end of book 1 we are told that
the expedition about to go forth will have 14 scientists aboard. By the
opener of the second book which resumes right after the first, this number
has reduced to 12. The crew compliment of a Thorranin star carrier as
specified by Skippy was 87. In book 2 it was mentioned that the crew
compliment was 78. Perhaps simple typos but, really, who cares?

When I reached the end of the book I wasn't even sure if a third instalment
was in the offing but was thrilled to find that a sample of the next
instalment, Paradise, was provided and it was read by R.C Bray. This book
hints at the story taking on a parallel timeline as Bishop's old friends
"Corn Pone" and "Ski" are featured as they adapt to life under the Ruhar.
This is another very promising thing that Alanson has shown in his story
development and I look forward to the release of this title with great
anticipation.

Spec Ops is another superb story from Craig Alanson and if you liked the
first book then you will love this one too. These two books are the best
reads I've had in a long while in this and any other genre for that matter.

Excellent SciFi Silliness

What did you like most about SpecOps?

This audiobook is just a lot of fun.

What was one of the most memorable moments of SpecOps?

The whole adventure was enjoyable from start to finish.

Which character – as performed by R.C. Bray – was your favourite?

Skippy - the AI character is a bit of a one trick pony on the joke front, but somehow the joke always remains amusing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes - definately. It was a virtual page turner...

Any additional comments?

This book, in literary terms, probably does not stack up against the best scifi - but that is missing the point. It is great escapist fun and a thoroughly enjoyable listen. It sounded like Mr. Bray enjoyed reading it - and he did another great job. Please hurry with No. 3!

Damn monkeys...

Yet another awesome instalment. Excellent book, once again well read by R C Bray and I really can't wait for the next part. 5/5

Not as good as the first book.

Storyline is too slow must of the book, and than too fast when the interesting bits shine.
also tiering to hear the same jokes repeatedly.

THAT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME

Next please.........
More more more more more more more more more more more I need more.


Gimme MOAR.

Very lack lustre

Not the same excitement as first. Just a rehash and skippy just isn’t enough. Disappointed

awesome

it was awesome R C Bray really brought Skippy to life and have the story a whole lot more depth it was very entertaining

Forget Siri, We Need More Skippy!

I think there's a very simple way to review this book. If you've read the first book and want some more, then get this book because the adventure just takes off in the same way. There's more Barney, more Skippy, more irreverent monkey insults and more great action.

RC Bary the microphone maestro continues to do his thing and I grow more in awe of his talents as a narrator with every passing word I hear from him. He's on top form with this performance and I really get the impression that he has particularly enjoyed reading this series so far.

Even though this really is space opera and the kind of thing to give plot hole pedants nightmares Alanson creates a universe with a little depth, has interesting sci-fi ideas and gives his books a sense of action and adventure.

Maybe I should grow up more but it had me both laughing out loud and rooting for Joe and his merry band of pirates the whole way through. So, when's the next one out?