The Lost Fleet: Valiant

By: Jack Campbell

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Deep within Syndicate Worlds' space, the Alliance fleet continues its dangerous journey home under the command of Captain John "Black Jack" Geary, who was revived after a century spent in suspended animation. Geary's victories over the enemy have earned him both the respect and the envy of his fellow officers.

Geary has made many risky decisions as commander, especially in ordering the Alliance fleet back to the Lakota Star System, where it was nearly destroyed by the Syndics. It's a desperate gamble that may buy Geary just enough time to prepare for the Syndics' inevitable return, and give the fleet a fighting chance at survival.

But even as he struggles to stay one step ahead of the enemy, Geary must face conspirators within his own fleet who want a change of command and are willing to do anything to bring it about. Geary knows that his fleet must stand together or the Syndic forces will tear them apart.

BONUS AUDIO: Author Jack Campbell explains why he sees Valiant as the latest in a long tradition of "sea stories".

Get Lost! Listen to the rest of the Lost Fleet series.

©2008 John G. Hemry (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Love the series but...

STORY (sci-fi) - I love this series and, don't get me wrong, I'm sure I will continue to love it, but this book is my least favorite so far. There is the usual cat-and-mouse game with the Syndics and the strategic battles we have all come to love and expect. There are more inside attempts to sabotage the fleet, and the unknown alien presence continues to aid the Syndics against the Alliance. Geary continues his policy of preserving the lives of innocent civilian Syndics and starts to plant the seed of peace-talking with them. The love triangle between Geary, Rionne and Desjani becomes more important in this book, but I'm thinking (and hoping) it will return to its usual smaller background role in future books.

While the book is good, it is kind of SSDD (same shit different day). You could probably skip it and not really miss anything important that contributes to the future of the fleet. The opening battle takes an extra long time, seems like about half the book, and there are constant references to Geary's being considered a hero and how he's sent by the ancient ancestors to save the human race, blah, blah. I know that from the previous books and I didn't need it repeated 20 times in this book alone.

PERFORMANCE - Love this narrator! Not only does he have a sexy low voice for Captain Geary, but he gives Rionne and Desjani two completely distinct female voices. They actually sound feminine and not like drag queens! The only thing I'd complain about (and maybe this is just me) but the word "auxiliaries" comes up a lot. A whole lot. In my part of the world we say it four syllables (aux-il-a-rees) but he makes it five syllables (aux-il-ee-air-ees). Kind of drove me crazy.

OVERALL - No sex or cursing. There are space battles but no talk of blood or gore. This is the third book in the series and it can stand alone, I suppose, but I'd recommend starting with Book 1 and following the series in order.

4 people found this helpful

I like honorable heroes!

This is one of my favorite series and I look forward to see how the fleet will get back home. I guess you could criticize some of the redundancies found throughout this series (such as the retelling of Black Jacks 100 years in the freezer, or the delays caused by the limits to the speed of light, etc.) but I guess if you didn't include them, readers of later books, who did not read earlier books would complain. I also enjoy the interplay between the main characters and the voices provided to them by the narrator. If you like honorable heroes (like I sometimes do) you will like these books, if not, you might not. Enjoy!

15 people found this helpful

I can't wait for the next book!

This series continues to get better after each novel.

If you enjoy space battles and sci-fi "war" novels, you can't go wrong with all of the Lost Fleet books.

5 people found this helpful

Valiant

Christian Rummel does an excellent job narrating this book. I have enjoyed the series so far a bit more repetition than I like but does serve to remind me when it has been awhile since the prior book in the series. Great battle scenes and both fleet and world politics going on. Great series that allows one to obtain a fun getaway from the stresses of life. Like the fact that Black Jack is bring back ethics to the fleet.

4 people found this helpful

Fantastic

This is a fantastic series. It took me a little bit to get used to the narrator's voice. But he really is a great fit as a narrator.

The series reminds me a lot of the 'Honor Harrington' series. So if you liked those, then you'll like these (and vice versa). There is a little more focus on the technical details of battle in the 'Lost Fleet' series than the 'Honor Harrington' ones, and it really brings a sense of realism.

I cannot wait for the next book!

4 people found this helpful

Sci Fi Fun

As number four in the Lost Fleet series, Valiant is more of the same. Despite this, I am looking forward to a number five? The whole series has been favored with excellent narration & production.

4 people found this helpful

Shazam!

Each book in this series just gets better. The pace is back to normal after the rushed feeling of the last. Exquisite detail of space organization for those who enjoy meat and potatoes with they SF fluff. 3 dimensional character, and great plot are just a few of the weapons in this writers incredible arsenal.

Our hero the revived and thawed Jack Black Geary has finally got his game back on. After the brutal crush the Syndics had served his fleet Geary is back in top form. However great things are moving with the Syndics treachery strikes from home. Someone is sabotaging the fleet, betraying not just Geary but the entire Alliance. Betrayed, battered but not beat Geary must put an end to the mischief threatening the rag-tag fleet and get the key back to Alliance space.

There is also some romantic interests burning down the hallways of the fleet, try not to get burned!

Enjoy the entire series of "The Lost Fleet" it is one of the best written Sci-Fi series since EE Doc's immortal series.

Also the narrator is perhaps one of the best character driven narrators I have heard. I really enjoy his telling of the story. As good, if not better than Jim Dale. Great job on this most excellent audio book.

-Tizroc

11 people found this helpful

the worst so far of the books. Way too drama heavy

great series, but this book dropped the ball. spoiler of the story to follow. Got too far way from the great detail of the space battles. Instead replacing them with a love triangle resembling twilight. Granted the story is starting to get a little repetitive: fleet meets enemy, hero uses great strategy, somehow defeats enemy with minimal loses, hero upset over the few loses, everyone tells him how great he is and shouldn't be upset. Story starting to drag. Narrator is fabulous

3 people found this helpful

Deity worship in a space adventure...?!

while hoping for a great space adventure...and then hearing all the Deity praise &worship throughout the story was extremely irritating....chewed nuts and bolts painfully..to get through it....

1 person found this helpful

Addictive

I got this book when it was on sale, but as I listened I was quickly drawn into the story and eventually got all of the audiobooks in the series. The same thing happened with my son when I let him listen. Fun story and good idea for the plot. Very well narrated as well. Definitely worth getting. Prepare to download the others.

3 people found this helpful

This series gets better and better

Excellent story, perfectly narrated, it's nice to read an author who gets just how big space is.

Great developments in the story

If only I could read in 3D, then I might be able to understand and keep up with the battles. The rest of this book continues to develop both characters and storyline at a good pace. Enjoyable

black jack

another entertaining tail, again getting you to use your imagination to picture the events and charactors . A bit annoying the repeat of some bits of information that comes from previous books in this series but still has me wanting more.

Love the narrator. Good overall.

Another very good book. story has some great interesting parts. on to the next one.

The plot thickens.

Better!
Tension builds. Story finally begins to expand beyond running and fighting. Of course Geary's woes regarding the women in his life continues. Tiring in the extreme that. Also the religious undertones (living stars / ancestors) is starting to be somewhat annoying.

Still, this is the strongest book in the series so far. I will continue listening.

Brilliant !

Narrator is very good as is this space epic with shout our moments, loved it!

Brilliant

So much more than just a tactical battle in space, but has intrigued, politics and the struggles of life.

look forward to what happens next

the story gets more interesting as we get closer to the end. the space battles are epic and the politics just got more intense.
I look forward to seeing what happens next.

another nail biting book

Talk about shocking revelations in this here book!! love how its written and love who is in it. I just need to pace myself now because I have many more books to buy from this author. I get what the people were saying about the author repeating concepts again and again but I feel like its world building I love those marines I feel like the viewer the captain uses is like some of today's video games ... infact a game with a fleet and marines in space would be nice!!

still the same

I have persaveared but I'm struggling. still too much chat and Tec detail. do I just go for the last book