I’m really digging this series. When I write a book review, I rate a story based on my expectations and how much I actually enjoyed it, rather than comparing it to every classic I’ve ever read. Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3 by Jack Campbell does exactly what it’s supposed to do. There’s a sharp focus on intense space battles and fleet tactics, balanced with growing subplots about the personal life of the main character, his allies and opponents within the fleet, and his complicated relation...

Number three in The Lost Fleet series, and holy smokes, that was good! If you are looking for a gripping space opera book review, this is it.The story remains clean as a whistle regarding bad language and violence. There isn't any explicit smut either, just fade-to-black scenes.The fleet is still jumping from system to system, acting unpredictably to keep the Syndics guessing, all while trying to make it back to Alliance space. Because the path home is intentionally erratic to avoid the enemy, t...

Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3 by Jack Campbell is a solid sci-fi read that makes a genuine effort to get the science right, even if it does rely on the inevitable 'magic' of jumping between star systems. The battle scenes are well-executed, though they remain focused on a macro perspective. The closest we get to the action is through the commander of the Fleet Marines; otherwise, the narrative stays at the ship captain and fleet commander level. We only see the movements of squadrons and fl...

Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3 continues the narrative begun by Jack Campbell in the first two books of The Lost Fleet series (Dauntless and Fearless), with the subject matter and writing style remaining consistent. Readers who enjoyed those installments are very likely to enjoy this military science fiction novel as well.One facet of the overall story which begins to wear thin in Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3 involves the ongoing internal challenges to the authority of the protagonist,...

I came very close to skipping this book entirely. Based on my experience with the previous entries, The Lost Fleet series was a bit of a mixed bag. The space fleet battles were absolutely fantastic, and I especially enjoyed how Jack Campbell handled the complexities of relativistic physics. On the flip side, the often wooden character interactions and the frustratingly strained relationship between Geary and Rione were genuinely painful to read. However, I’m glad I stuck with the series. Dotted...

Another excellent sequel in The Lost Fleet series. I have never been a huge fan of military sci-fi, but I really connected with the main character in Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3. Jack Campbell has crafted a protagonist in 'Black Jack' Geary who feels like a hard-nosed yet genuinely likeable leader, suddenly thrust into impossible circumstances where he must battle both an aggressive enemy and the internal politics of his own fleet. This is a solid read with a perfect balance of tactical d...

Since this is the third installment and I don't want to spoil anything, I'll keep this brief. To be honest, Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3 is the best book of the three I’ve read so far. The entire series, and this entry is no exception, brought back memories of my time serving on the USS Wisconsin BB64 and the USS Ramage DDG 61. Jack Campbell—a former Naval Academy graduate—really knows his stuff. Sure, everything in the book is handled by advanced computers, but it reminded me of those day...

An excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3 is another strong entry in Jack Campbell’s series, continuing the saga of the Alliance Fleet as they "attack in the other direction"—because, naturally, a fighting retreat is out of the question. Captain John "Black Jack" Geary remains focused on his mission: bringing the fleet home, along with the vital Hypernet Key his flagship carries, which could finally allow the Alliance to use the enemy’s own jump gates. This...

I'm really enjoying this series. Jack Campbell writes action sequences with a casual confidence that makes the space battles an absolute delight to read. I can see why some reviewers might complain about a bit of repetition creeping into the series at this stage, but I disagree with the idea that this is a bad thing. To me, it heightens the sense of being trapped—deep behind enemy lines for an indefinite amount of time—fighting desperate engagement after desperate engagement with no quick soluti...

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR INTELLIGENT, WELL-WRITTEN MILITARY SF? Congratulations, you’ve found it. I’d give Courageous: The Lost Fleet, Book 3 by Jack Campbell 3.5 stars. I read a wide variety of genres, and since not all of them fall into my personal “sweet spot,” my ratings can sometimes be a bit more reserved than the book might actually deserve. This is a perfect example. I suspect dedicated fans of military sci-fi will easily rate this between 4 and 5 stars—and rightly so, as it is a high-quality...